Convention center to rise in Iloilo

Iloilo City — A P450-million convention center will be built on a 1.7 hectare lot at the old Iloilo airport property, which is expected to establish the province as a conference hub in Western Visayas, Sen. Franklin Drilon announced yesterday.

Drilon said in a statement that funding for the construction of the two-story convention center, designed by Ilonggo architect Willy Coscoluella, will come from his Priority Development Assistance Fund.

The site of the project was donated by Megaworld Corp., which now owns the 54-hectare property that once served as Iloilo’s Airport. The deed of donation between Megaworld and the Department of Tourism was signed at the Marriott Hotel in Manila on Nov. 13.

Drilon said the convention center would enable Iloilo to hold the best and the most glamorous of the conferences and exhibitions.

“This is a realization of a lifelong dream of the residents of Panay Island to have their own highly impressive and sophisticated convention center at par with those of Cebu and Davao,” Drilon said.

This would help boost the chances of Iloilo to host the Asia Pacific Economic Council meeting in 2015, especially since the Iloilo International Airport serves both local and international flights.     /INQUIRER