Cebu City mayor welcomes partnership with Quiboloy for world’s biggest stadium

Cebu City’s skyline, seen in this Oct. 27 photo, is the economic hub of the Visayas. Mayor Michael
Rama says he wants to pattern his city’s development after Singapore. —DALE ISRAEL

CEBU CITY — Mayor Michael Rama of this city has decided to no longer sell the remaining lots at the South Road Properties (SRP), the newest commercial hub that rose out of a city-developed 300-hectare reclamation area.

Instead, he might enter into a joint venture agreement with controversial televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) and self-proclaimed appointed “Son of God,” who was one of 40 individuals and entities in nine countries sanctioned for corruption and human rights abuse by the US treasury department .

During an interview with Quiboloy at the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) studio in Davao City last Saturday, Feb. 4, the two discussed the possibility of constructing the world’s biggest stadium at the SRP through a joint venture.

During the SMNI program that lasted for about two hours, the mayor told Quiboloy that he was mesmerized by the televangelist’s King’s Dome in Davaom, which has a 75,000 capacity, bigger than the Iglesia ni Kristo’s Philippine Arena in Bulacan that could hold 55,000 people.

Quiboloy told Rama to find a property where they could build the world’s biggest stadium that could house 150,000 persons – bigger than the world’s biggest stadium in Ahmedabad, India, which has a capacity of 132,000.

Rama then brought up the SRP, saying he was no longer interested in selling the remaining lots but would enter into joint ventures with prospective investors.

“I told other city officials that we would no longer sell (unsold SRP lots). We can probably engage in a joint venture or whatever set-up,” the mayor said.

In a press conference on Monday, Rama said he was very happy that Quiboloy supported his Singapore-like vision for the city.

Rama first introduced his vision of a “Singapore-like Cebu City” when he took his oath of office in June 2022.

Since then, he issued several executive orders gearing towards this vision.

Among them are the destruction of structures that violated the three-meter easement of major waterways, the creation of medium-rise buildings as relocation for his affected constituents, and the optional wearing of face masks as he reopened the city’s economy.

Within this month, Rama said he would be back in Manila to look for more investors that could realize his dream for the city.

The so-called “investment begging” was intended to generate funds and pledges for some projects in the city.

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