Iloilo province eyes P350 M convention center
The Strategic and Comprehensive Consultants, Inc. (SCCI) has presented yesterday the design of the P350 million Iloilo Provincial Multi-Purpose Convention Center, Commercial and Office Building Project before the members of the Iloilo Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
SCCI chairman David Buenavacz explained that as the official financial adviser hired by the Provincial Government, they have examined and studied convention centers and similar facilities in important places and considered carefully what maybe relevant and relative to the Province of Iloilo, and the role it will play in its existence.
As the official designer and financial adviser of the multi-million project, SCCI will be charging the provincial government 3%of the entire cost of the project. But, Buenavacz told the SP members they will not be paid until the project is fully finished. "We are taking the risk, we offer the provincial government the No Cure, No Pay scheme."
The Iloilo Convention Center is envisioned as a core facility for gatherings of regional, national and international levels. The complex shall include several spaces with movable walls with different feel and characters and will be equipped with the state-of-the-art visual, data transmission, and telecommunications system. The main hall is intended as a special hybrid conference and performance arts venue, a dedicated stage, proscenium with fly capacity, backstage and greenroom, and control systems and acoustic treatment for creating a sound field optimal for these purposes.
The commercial building fronts the main avenue of the city is intended for commercial and office purposes. It is ideal for the better restaurants, offices, regional headquarters, and can be very well the new venue for meetings and dealings of the province given its central location and natural proximity to the Capitol.
The P350 million- project, however, does not include provisions for parking. 1st district boardmember Bernardo B. Silla, Jr. told the SCCI the need of the convention center its own parking lot as the Capitol ground cannot cater anymore to additional cars.
Buenavacz said that the parking lot is not included in the design as he computed another P60-70 million additional cost for the province if they will include the parking lot designed for 200-250 cars. So, instead he is eyeing the Capitol grounds to be used as the parking lot .
"The reasons why that the parking lot is not included because of the additional cost which is not viable and we are trying to save the Province of money, " Buenavacz stressed.
Boardmember Niel C. Tupas, Jr. refered the matter to the Committees on Ways and Means, Infrastructure, and Economic Enterprise for recommendation.
(Gina Angela H. Celebria)