Suplico calls for emergency meeting amidst pay-off yarn on 3 Board Members
By hook or by crook, Governor Niel Tupas Sr.’s ‘pet project,’ the P350 million convention center is reportedly in the bag.
And so is the purported P300,000 “cash gift” to three board members allegedly tasked to push for legislative approval. While at it, a more serious allegation of yet another “advance payment” to a former board member now member of Congress.
As such, Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico will convene today members of the 9th Iloilo SP for an executive emergency meeting. Slated at 3 p.m., venue is the session hall of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol. It was not clear if members of the media will be allowed access however Suplico in a text message sent to The News Today (TNT) confirmed the schedule.
The vice governor was direct and blunt with his reason for the meeting.
“I’m concerned about allegations that 1.) a Mr. Cedric Lee offered P300 thousand each to three board members last January 27 to approve the construction of the P350 M convention center, the pet project of Governor Niel Tupas Sr. and 2.) that Mr. Lee gave former board member and now Representative Niel Tupas Jr. an advance payment of P17.5M or 5% of the P350 M, the project cost. We will discuss all available options in order to address the allegations of bribery,” Suplico said.
No further details were disclosed by the vice governor on the supposed bribery cum pay-off. Yet with the meeting set, Suplico is expected to address the matter later today.
To recall, the multi-million convention center formed part of the highlight in this year’s State of the Province Address (SOPA) of the governor.
The project though has since been blocked by the Sanggunian following an extensive committee hearing that heard government planners and experts objecting to the project.
All P350 million funding will be in the form of a loan, yet another concern objected to by the majority of the 9th SP.
It was in late 2007 when talks of the convention center first came to view. The SP body led by Third District Board Member Arthur Defensor Jr. then conducted series of committee hearings.
In fact, a "full-blown" Feasibility Study was called for by the body after the “failing grade” then given to convention center lobbyist David Bunevacz. The SP dads agreed on the sentiments of government planners, private Certified Public Accountants, Tourism Regional Director Edwin Trompeta and Trade and Industry Provincial Director Diosdado Cadena. The group in an over-all evaluation contended that the Feasibility Study submitted was not acceptable and according to standards.
"Poorly done and erroneous" came the similar opinions of the resource persons invited by the SP probe body with Regional Director Trompeta pointing out significant lapses on the Feasibility Study profile.
For instance, the Province as "regional center for Western Visayas" and the region's "financial center and trade hub" actually belong to Iloilo City. The Province as "convention destination" is likewise attributed and a priority of the city. If proper attribution was made, Director Trompeta said construction of a Convention Center is not really in accordance with the province's thrust. Instead he said, the development of Bucari in the Second District could have been the right project.
"There was an error in presentation," Trompeta then told the Committee. "For the Province of Iloilo, the concern is something else."
Yet there's more. For Ramiro Galanto, president of the Certified Public Accountants here, the Feasibility Study as made by "Capitol Advisor" David Buenavacz lacks "major elements."
With what Buenavacz managed to present, Galanto said "it cannot be appreciated" much less come up to the standards of what a "good Feasibility Study" should be.
Galanto added how from the looks of it, the Buenavacz study "was poorly prepared" as he went on to disagree with Buenavacz's "market research" that Iloilo has not enough facilities.
Galanto shared how a recent convention gathered over 1,500 Certified Public Accountants in the city with all "comfortably accommodated by existing hotels and restaurants."
"A good Feasibility Study should have comprehensive financial ratios and easy to comprehend which are not present here," he added.
Questions were also raised on the supposed "market research" with Board Member Defensor Jr. (Third District), Committee Chairman seeking for specifics.
Buenavacz's associate, Bong Tandoc said vendors and commercial lessors were indeed asked however he cannot recall nor identify any offhand.
Meantime, key players in Iloilo's hotel and tourism industry decried the lack of coordination and consultation with their group. As partners for Iloilo's growth and development, the group represented by Teresa Sarabia of the Iloilo Hotel Resorts and Restaurant Association (IHRRA) said no consultation was made at all. Same thing with the Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB).
Sarabia in her statement said there may be a need for a Convention Center but one that will accommodate 5,000 people and more. And not anything less that said capacity since existing hotels and resorts here can already answer the demands.
Trompeta for his part submitted actual figures regarding Convention Center operations throughout the country.
"How can we market the Convention Center here when the plan does not even have rooms for the delegates?," he added while citing how current practice have various hotels offering the venue for free for as long as food and beverages are part of the deal.
If Buenavacz' Feasibility Study is to be believed, the Convention Center will raise huge revenues for the Province. It even cited "average rental" of P90,000 "per event per day."
It also stated that the P350 million if pushed through is a "worthwhile venture." The deal was with Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) in regards to the loan questioned for its regularity.