PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III will lead the inaugural rites of the P700-million Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) on September 14 in Iloilo City.
Finishing touches are underway in front of the Iloilo Convention Center one week before its scheduled inauguration to be led by Pres. Noynoy Aquino Photo by Rock Drilon |
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Western Visayas Director Edilberto Tayao confirmed this after receiving words from Senate President Franklin Drilon on the presidential invitation.
ILOILO CONVENTION CENTER at the Iloilo Business Park is in icon in the works Photo by Marx de Silva |
Tayao said that Phase II of the project is soon to be completed with furniture and furnishing already in place.
Iloilo City is scheduled to host the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) ministerial meeting on September 21-25, the Senior Disaster Management Officials Forum on September 22-23, the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and the Blue Economy and Related Meetings on September 28 to October 6.
The site of the convention center covering an area of 1.70 hectare was donated by the Megaworld, which is within its 54-hectare property, formerly the old Iloilo airport. It has a total floor area of 11,349.96 square meters, comprising the ground floor, second floor, mezzanine and roof deck.
It has a capacity of more than 3,700 guests and the ground floor accommodates the main convention hall and the second floor with seven function rooms at 80 guests capacity per room, as well as museum and souvenir shop.
The new convention center is aimed to draw local and international guests for large-scale conventions and other important events and put the country on the business tourism map.
The convention center was constructed by Hilmarc’s Construction Corporation based on a design by Ilonggo architect William Coscoluella and inspired by Iloilo’s Dinagyang and Paraw festivals.
Tayao said that aside from the ICC, Aquino will also inaugurate the new bridge linking Lapuz district and the new ferry and fast craft terminal to the city proper.
Photo Credits Rock Drilon and Marx de Silva