Gwen gives contractor until August 1 to complete project

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has set an August 1 deadline for the contractor to finish the Sugbo Performing Arts Center in Lahug, Cebu City.

Garcia said she was giving a “non-negotiable” deadline to   Pragmatic Construction so the center can be  inaugurated  in time for the founding anniversary of the Province on Aug. 12.

The theater,  located in the campus of the University of the Philippines  Cebu College, was started in 1993 during the term of Gov. Vicente de la Serna and has gone through several contractors and stop-and-start work.

Garcia, who promised to complete the cultural center during her term, said she would collect damages from the contractor if  it doesn’t meet the deadline.

Garcia visited the site yesterday with architect Tessie Javier, and Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre to check on progress with Karen Fiel-Tio.

Garcia had also promised UP alumni during UP’s centennial celebration in 2008 that she would make the Performing Arts Center the “most beautiful” one of its kind in the Visayas.

She said it would complement the  Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City, which was built in 2007 for the Asean Summit.

“CICC has become a favorite venue for many activities… there would be a need for a more specialized venue,” she said.

The Capitol bidded out  the work to complete the e Sugbo Performing Arts Center for P13 million.

The project  was originally part of a plan by then Governor de la Serna to build a students dormitory and a cultural center on the province-owned lot in UP campus.

During the next term of Gov. Pablo Garcia, the  dormitory was bought by the UP administration  and used for classrooms of the Arts and Sciences Department.  The cultural center   was in limbo  after negotations stalled with the Cebu City and Provincial Governments over who would manage it.  The Capitol finally agreed to take over.

Garcia said she would  tap the  Philippine Exhibitors Trade Corp. which also manages the CICC.

In an amended memorandum of agreement (MOA) between UP and the Cebu Provincial Government,  UP agreed to give the Capitol full control and operation of the arts center.

Garcia in her inspection last month assessed the center as  85 percent complete.

Engineer Pelayre told Cebu Daily News the center would have a seating capacity of 1,600.

Architect Javier said the the center would have a “youthful and space age”  look.

Compared to the structure and design of the Kodak Theater in Hollwood, the Sugbo Performing Arts Center will have a “free design but more controlled”.

Javier said this would answer the province’s ‘ardent need” for  a theater.

Last July 15, Garcia announced in her State of the Province Address (SOPA) that she would soon complete the center.

The center is scheduled to be inaugurated on August 12.