Professional mgmt. team to run CICC

Capitol will be hiring a professional management team to oversee the operations of the Cebu International Convention Center.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said yesterday the team must have expertise and background on the handling of events and conferences.

Garcia, who is the chairwoman of the CICC Management Board, also said the local government units of Cebu province and Mandaue City have already met to discuss and thresh out details on the final guidelines, protocol and terms of reference in the management and operations of the CICC.

The governor earlier said the CICC will not be used for wedding receptions or baptisms, but now she seems not totally closed to the idea.

"In the meantime, we do not want to venture because we don't have yet the knowledge, that is why we are hiring a professional team," she said.

Meanwhile, the CICC management board is now finalizing the bill it will send to the National Organizing Committee of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nation Summit for use of the CICC for the event last January 10 to 15.

Last week, the Provincial Board, through a resolution authored by board member Victor Maambong, requested the NOC through Ambassador Marciano Paynor to pay for their use of the facility.

"The use of the CICC as venue for the 12th ASEAN summit should have its fair, commensurate and equivalent fee as promised and undertaken by the National Organizing Committee and not as demanded by Cebu Province and Mandaue City," the resolution of Maambong read.

Maambong, who represents the 6th District that includes Mandaue City, said the construction of the CICC was completed despite all the criticism against it.

Last March 10, 2006, the Mandaue City government and Cebu province inked a joint venture agreement creating a management board to look into the day-to-day operations of the CICC. The joint venture agreement also allows both LGUs to prescribe policies and guidelines for the efficient management of the facility, it also provides that the governor and mayor both co-chair the six-member board, with three more appointees from each LGU.

The province built the CICC using provincial funds amounting to P515 million in a 43.185-square-meter lot owned by Mandaue City worth P457.63 million. - Garry B. Lao/BRP