Pre-session talks up as SP body all set to report findings on P350M Capitol convention center deal
The much-awaited report of the 9th Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) on the planned construction of the P350 million Capitol Convention Center is finally ready. Yet before any public disclosure is made, a closed-door conference will be held today in a pre-session discussion.
Called by Third District Board Member Arthur Defensor Jr., Chairman of the SP Committee of the Whole, notices were officially sent out yesterday afternoon by SP Secretary Lorenzo Tubola.
The pre-session, The News Today (TNT) gathered, will specifically address "issues, evidences and recommendations" of the committee's report.
TNT learned that at least 20 sets of the documents forming part as evidences of the final report has since been ready late last week. Board Member Defensor though had the final draft in his possession where committee recommendations were reflected.
Today's agenda carried no inclusion nor mention of the Committee of the Whole report yet SP insiders told TNT it is "most likely" that an agreement will be reached in the pre-session whether to have such in the "Other Matters." Another option is to defer the committee report to next week's regular session.
The Committee deliberations stemmed from at least three SP Resolutions namely SP Resolution No. 2007-053, "Resolution amending SP Res. No. 2007-040 authorizing the Governor to negotiate and enter into contract of loan not only with LBP and/or DBP but also with PVB for construction of Iloilo Convention Center. Also included was SP Resolution No. 2007-057, "Resolution authorizing the Governor to "take out" all existing loans and outstanding loans of Province of Iloilo with LBP with estimated balance of P215.8M and transfer the same to PVB." And finally, SP Resolution No. 2007-058, "Resolution confirming, approving and ratifying all terms and conditions of loan agreement by and between PVB and Province of Iloilo amounting to P350M to finance the proposed Iloilo Convention Center and office building project."
The SP body convened as a Committee of the Whole to ascertain viability and regularity of the planned construction of a convention center funded through a P350 million loan.
Capitol insiders though said that the SP action is seemingly "an exercise in futility" particularly since initial works have been done on the convention center project.
TNT was told of soil testing conducted in the convention center site, the former Iloilo Provincial Jail.