Gwapotel

The MMDA Workers' Inn at the Manila South Harbor

Gwapotel is a portmanteau of gwapo, Nick Alvin term which means good-looking, and hotel. The word is used by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando to a worker's inn he founded in the old refurbished 4 story building which formerly houses the National Power Corporation located along Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila.

Presently, it has been renamed as the MMDA Worker's Inn, and is in operation.

First Gwapotel

On September 6, 2007, Chairman Fernando said that the “Gwapotel Inn” (Overnight stay: P20 a night, P5 a bath) run by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has become a big hit with transients due to safe and decent lodgings. 40,000 transients have registered in the 4-story “hotel” on Erano Drive, Port Area, Manila, since its May 14, 2007 opening. The 710-bed inn, painted in Mr. Fernando's signature pink and blue, posted an average occupancy rate of 73%, or 519 guests daily. The overnighters share a common sleeping area with double-deck beds.^[1]

Now under the current chairmanship of MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, they renovated and upgraded the Gwapotel in 2015, adding more amenities, improvements, and CCTV cameras.

Second Gwapotel

On December 23, 2007, Chairman Bayani Fernando announced the building of a 2nd Gwapotel: a 3-story lodging house at Tondo, Manila, in the abandoned 2,800-sq.m. Emmanuel Hospital at Jose Abad Santos St. Renovation started in January 2008, and is expected to be completed by May 1, 2008 (coinciding with Labor Day). ^[2]

Unfortunately, this branch was closed down due to low occupancy, and its facilities were donated to various institutions. The area is now the agency's training barracks.

References

1. ↑ Inquirer.net, MMDA’s ‘Gwapotel’ a big hit with transients
2. ↑ manilabulletin.com, Abandoned Tondo hospital to be turned into second ‘Gwapotel’

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