CICC closed over P32M quake damage

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) would be temporarily unavailable for use until the P32-million damage caused by last week’s 7.1-magnitude earthquake would be repaired.

In the report submitted to Gov. Hilario Davide III, Acting Provincial Engineer Hector Jamora said that of the P32.34 million damage to the CICC, that in the main building, particularly the exterior walls that have fallen down, costs around P12.532 million.

The interior walls of the main building have also suffered major cracks while wirings and the water storage tank have been damaged also.

Based on the report, the front and back canopies, comfort rooms, function rooms and summit and exhibition halls were also damaged by the quake and the succeeding aftershocks.

Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera said the CICC would be closed while the walls and the gypsum board ceiling are repaired and the broken glass panels are replaced.

“The governor will meet with the (Capitol) departments concerned to discuss the timetable for the repairs,” she said.

Even prior to the earthquake, however, renovation of the CICC was already among the pipeline projects of the Provincial Government to make it a world-class facility.

Meanwhile, apart from the CICC, Jamora’s office also reported that damage on other Capitol properties reached an estimate of P72.5 million.

Among those that are heavily affected is the Baex building located within the Provincial Capitol compound.

Davide said the structure has been condemned and the provincial engineer has recommended for the construction of a new building, which is estimated to cost P24.5 million.

Among the offices housed in the Baex building are that of the provincial auditor, Provincial Women’s Commission, provincial tourism, Department of Interior and Local Government-Cebu, Civil Service Commission, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and the post office.

Like the Palace of Justice occupants who are now using tents because the building has been declared unsafe, employees of the Baex building offices are also housed in tents within the Provincial Capitol compound.

In the same report, Jamora said the Capitol’s main building suffered P2 million in damage, while that at the legislative building reached P5 million.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and the Provincial Board members and their respective employees have been using the conference rooms of the executive building as temporary offices.

The Cebu Cultural Center in Lahug, Cebu City was likewise damaged by the quake (P3.8 million) along with the Museo Sugbo (P1.2 million).

For hospitals under the management of the Provincial Government, the Danao City Hospital suffered the most damage (P789, 376). Other affected hospitals are those in Carcar City and the towns of Barili, Tuburan, Badian, Malabuyoc and Argao .

Jamora also told the governor that schools in the towns and cities of of Dumanjug, Catmon, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Borbon, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Balamban, Asturias, Pinamungajan, Toledo, Bogo and Tabogon also need fixing after the earthquake.

For damage caused on bridges, he said an estimated P1.2 million was suffered by the Pitogo-Balamban bridge, Borbon bridge 1, Luy-a bridge, Esperanza bridge, and Balungag bridge in San Fernando, as well as bridges in Medellin and Aloguinsan.

Davide earlier said they will be prioritizing the repair of hospitals and schools as well as   churches, which are mostly in the southern towns of Cebu. — /RHM (FREEMAN)