Defensor Jr. pushes for Agri-eco zone instead of convention center
Another solid no has been declared by a member of the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) on the now infamous P350 million planned convention center.
The latest to re-echo his stand is Third District Board Member Arthur Defensor Jr., chair of the Committee of the Whole tasked then to conduct legislative investigation on the proposed project.
The Committee in an extensive probe eventually came out with a report junking the project and rescinding the earlier contract that would have sealed the loan requirements.
For Defensor Jr., his no was anchored on his belief that the province is better off funding other projects. More so now that the matter has escalated into a major bribery scandal.
“Now that the project is tainted with such an issue, I have serious doubts if the SP can further entertain any revival. From my end, any revival of the Iloilo Convention Center is not a good idea. It is not a sound and viable project for the province anyway,” he said in a text message sent to The News Today (TNT). “We might as well focus on a provincial development plan which is resource-driven and that seeks to develop Iloilo into an agricultural special economic zone.”
It was in late 2006 when the plan first came to view.
The Strategic and Comprehensive Consultants, Inc. (SCCI) in December 2006 presented the design of the P350 million project. It was then called the “Iloilo Provincial Multi-Purpose Convention Center, Commercial and Office Building Project” before the members of the 8th Iloilo SP.
SCCI chairman David Buenavacz then introduced himself as the official “financial adviser” hired by the Provincial Government. The SCCI, he said, have examined and studied convention centers and similar facilities in “important places” throughout the country.
As the official designer and financial adviser of the multi-million project, SCCI, TNT learned, 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, " same words echoed by now SCCI president Rico Gonzales.
The facility that never was
TNT documents on file showed specifics of the P350 million project.
“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,” excerpts of the plan went. “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.”
Yet there was a hitch then.
The P350 million- project, however, did not include provisions for parking with then First District Board Member Bernardo B. Silla, Jr. pointing out the need.
Buenavacz then did acknowledged 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.
It was Board Member Niel C. Tupas, Jr. now Fifth District Congressman who referred the matter to the Committees on Ways and Means, Infrastructure, and Economic Enterprise for recommendation.
Incidentally, Tupas Jr. was now dragged into the bribery scandal with Vice Governor Rolex Suplico asking the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to come in.
Suplico wants to ascertain the veracity of reports that Tupas Jr. had an advance payment of P17.5 million or 5% of the total project cost.