Noy to inaugurate Iloilo Convention Center

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will lead today’s inauguration of the P700-million Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) and the ceremonial launch of the Iloilo Business Park and Richmonde Hotel Iloilo.

The President will be accompanied by Secretaries Rogelio Singson, Ramon Jimenez and Proceso Alcala upon his arrival at Richmonde Hotel at past 10 a.m. 

Aquino will also meet Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas, Iloilo Gov.Arthur Defensor, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Megaworld Corp. chairman and CEO Andrew Tan and other Megaworld officials.

Aquino will also be received by Mark Lapid, chief operating officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, and several other local leaders of the city government.

Sitting on a 1.7-hectare lot, the ICC was constructed based on a design inspired by Iloilo’s Dinagyang and Paraw festivals. It can accommodate up to 3,000 guests.

The ICC is ready to host at least three ministerial meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

The APEC senior disaster management officials forum is set on Sept. 22 and 23. The ministerial meeting on small and medium enterprises is from Sept. 21 to 25 and the ministerial meeting on food security and blue economy is from Sept. 28 to Oct. 6.

Earlier, however, former provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada Jr. alleged that the ICC was overpriced and implicated Senate President Franklin Drilon, an Ilonggo.

Mejorada claimed that Drilon conspired to rig the bidding of the project. Mejorada said W.V. Coscoluella and Associates, which designed the building, was awarded a contract without a public bidding and that construction was overpriced by P488 million.

Drilon was charged with graft before the Office of the Ombudsman in October 2014. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales dismissed the charges against Drilon, a Liberal Party stalwart and ally of the President, for lack of merit.