Aquino leads Iloilo bldg inaugural

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III will lead the inauguration rites for the new Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) on Sept. 14, a week before ministerial meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) take place here, said Senate President Franklin Drilon.

The Iloilo part of the Apec meetings are to be held at the ICC, one of the senator’s pet project. These include the Small and Medium Enterprise ministerial meeting on Sept. 21 to 25, disaster management on Sept. 22 to 23, and on food security on Sept. 28 to Oct. 6.

The completion of the P747 million ICC has been repeatedly delayed with public bidding for site development and audio-video lighting system conducted only last Aug. 24.

A complaint of graft was also brought against Drilon and other officials for alleged overpricing and other irregularities in connection with the ICC project but the case was dismissed by the Ombudsman for lack of evidence.

Drilon assured the public that the ICC would be completed in time for the Apec meetings.

He said the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), an agency under the Department of Tourism (DOT), which owns the building, has informed him that the building is “99.8 percent” complete.