Lapu to COA: Dome, terminal earn

The Lapu-Lapu City public terminal  and newly inaugurated Hoops Dome have been generating public income, an official said.

Acting city attorney and liaison officer to Congress  Michael Dignos was reacting to state auditors who reported that the city-owned facilities needed to attract more investors.

The terminal has been “operational for about one to two  years now and the bus terminal has an estimated (daily) income of not less than P10,000,” Dignos told Cebu Daily News.

Parts of the  Hoops Dome are rented by the Department of Education and other government agencies.

Several activities have ben lined up in the Hoops Dome like the Pinoy Pride boxing matches this July 30, Dignos said.

He projected an annual income of P20 million from the dome in three to five years.

The terminal and Hoops Dome are worth at least P213.9 million.

State auditors in their report for 2010 said promotion of  the facilities was not maximized.

“These projects were already functional but the Hoops Dome  is seldom used and the available office/business spaces have not been rented out or occupied yet due to absence of willing occupants.”

They advised the local government to offer discounted rental rates to attract potential users and earn more revenues.

They said the city should also  fast track the installation of lights and raise police visibility  along roads to the dome.

Dignos said routes to the Hoops Dome in barangay Gun-ob already have lights while the  police station is just 25 meters from the facility.

He said  COA auditors may have visited the building when its first  phase was completed and there were still  no lights, police station and routes for jeepneys and tricycles.

He said roads in the vicinity just need to be paved with concrete.

The Hoops Dome was launched last July 2 with a concert by world boxing champion and  Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao.

Mayor Paz Radaza said in an earlier interview that there are a lot of inquiries from private and government agencies who want to rent spaces in the Hoops Dome.

The full air-conditioned venue has 2,474 bucket seats with cup holders and 1,700 general admission seats.

“We would welcome if people from the private sector would operate the Hoops Dome. We would set a memorandum of agreement. But we have yet to take up an offer,”  Radaza said. /Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos