Architects' group now supports CICC project

The United Architects of the Philippines-Visayas chapter has now thrown its support to the new design of the Cebu International Convention Center.

This after Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia had briefed its officials on the circumstances surrounding the change of architect and design of the project in a meeting at her office yesterday afternoon.

During the meeting, the governor presented the facts, supported by documents, on Capitol's negotiation with Alexius Medalla, the winning designer for the dissolved megadome project in 2003.

"That was very well, eloquently said by them. In fact, architect Avila himself said that 'rest assured Gov. that the entire UAP is behind you and fully supporting you in this project'," Garcia told reporters in a news conference held shortly after her meeting with the architects.

UAP-Visayas chapter vice president Benjamin Avila, however, refused to be interviewed by the media after the meeting.

On the other hand, Garcia disclosed that the UAP officials were to hold a separate meeting last night together with Medalla and architect Manuel Guanzon, the new designer of the CICC. Both architects were called to the meeting to iron out kinks in relation to their Code of Ethics.

"They will be holding another meeting tonight, after which I believe they will be coming out with a statement which I requested them to make for we cannot allow this cloud of doubt to hang over this Cebuano project," Garcia said.

The governor sought for a meeting with the UAP officials and the officers of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) after Avila came out with a statement that Capitol should have cleared it first with Medalla before tapping the services of Guanzon for the CICC design.

Nevertheless, the governor was interested to hear from a certain architect Achas, who spoke for the UAP, that the previous statement of Avila did not represent the sentiments of the group.

Avila, on the other hand, reportedly admitted that what he said was his own views on the matter.

Moreover, the governor said the provincial government is going to re-align the P250 million originally appropriated for the megadome project to fund the CICC.

"It's the same appropriation which we shall stick to. Di buhiang piso og di malumping," Garcia said. - Cristina C. Birondo