CICC to undergo repairs for confab

The Capitol will have to undertake repairs on the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) weeks ahead of an international business conference after it suffered leaks due to last Tuesday’s rains.

“We had to do repairs. The carpets were soaked. There are repairs that need to be made. So, we cannot anymore give for free the CICC,” acting Gov. Agnes Magpale told reporters in Danao City last Wednesday.

The CICC is a popular venue for conferences and exhibits.

However, due to a tight cash flow in Capitol finances, Magpale said use of the province-owned facility will no longer be for free or enjoy deep discounts.

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) will rent the venue for next month’s Confederation of Asian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) Convention but will hold a welcome dinner at another venue.

The Province is giving g P3 million as financial assistance to the chamber for the hosting of the international event, but use of the CICC facilities will be chargedin full.

Magpale said the Cebu chamber advised her that they will hold a the dinner outside of CICC.

“Sa tinood ayohonon kaayo (ang CICC) (To tell the truth we need to repair the CICC),” she said.

Magpale said she was asked for a discount by the chamber in renting the CICC.

The Capitol is spending P1 million a month for power, P250,000 for water services and another P200,000 for the center’s management team, Petco.

She said she had to consult the Provincial Board (PB) ad hoc committee concerning the financial aid to be given to the chamber.

Suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia earlier pledged to give P5 million in aid for next month’s conference but Magpale, who was sworn in as acting governor in December, said they eventually decided to give P3 million.

“Everytime we pay out, we have to make sure that we have funds because we are dependent on the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA),” she said of the monthly income share of taxes received from the national government.

Magpale also said Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes wants an accounting of unpaid taxes by the CICC to the city government.

“There has been no accounting given to Mandaue City…I don’t know for how many years,” she added.

Cebu province receives P150 million a month as IRA. Of that amount, P45 million is allocated for salaries and wages and a portion is also given to remittances.

The rest, she said, could be used to pay the province’s liabilities.

Magpale said the Capitol also has obligations to local government units that asked for cement bags and multicabs.

“We’re inclined to pay a little (for the multicabs) and possibly purchase more units but we still have to pay the Manila consortium,” she said.

The Cebu provincial government is obligated to pay P57 million to Manila Water Consortium as its share of the bulk water project.

Magpale also said they will also have to pay P85 million to suppliers of Suroy-Suroy coasters.

“We have not yet paid a single centavo. The vehicles have already been distributed,” she said.

Magpale said a contractor working on the Camotes airport is also asking for a P11 million payment.

But she was told by Engr. Ricky Dakay of the Mactan Bridge board that the province has no permits from the Civil Aviations Authority of the Philippines (CAA) to build an airport. “So, we have to stop that,” she said.

Magpale said the administration of suspended Governor Garcia, based on her standards, was “excessively” spending on projects.

“But maybe by her (Garcia) standards, not so,” she said. Magpale said it was this reason that she’s ‘careful’ in hosting events.

“I do agree that it promotes Cebu also but if we can convince them, considering the financial status sa province, we can’t give that much,” the acting governor told reporters.