Contract for CICC management under review (As Soco says selling CICC is the better option)

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Government would have to review first the contract between the Philippine Exhibits and Theme Parks Corporation (PETCO) and the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) Management Board.

This was agreed upon in a discussion with Acting Governor Agnes Magpale and PETCO representatives last Thursday in an attempt to further iron out the concerns of the 3-story convention center in Mandaue City, which include payments to PETCO for their services to manage, market and promote the CICC.

PETCO was reportedly paid P3M by the Capitol in 2012 for its services.

In their meeting, Magpale said that they have yet to settle payments to PETCO since they believed that there was no contract between the corporation and the province.

Prior to approval of projects of the Provincial Capitol, Magpale said that she is firm that contracts should always go through the Provincial Board first.

But Magpale said that Atty. Marino Martinquilla, provincial attorney, stressed that there was authority given to PETCO for the management of the CICC. Martinquilla also said that the contract was even discussed during one of their meetings of the CICC management board, said Magpale.

The Province had a joint venture with Mandaue City in 2007 for the creation of the CICC management board but since then the board rarely met, said Magpale. 

During their meeting last Thursday, Magpale said that they initially agreed that Martinquilla would just have to certify that there was indeed a contract but cannot be located but since they are convening the board, Magpale said that they decided to ratify it.

Further, the acting governor said that she has asked PETCO to coordinate with Elizabeth Francia, the chief of staff of suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia regarding the contract mentioned by Martinquilla.

PETCO reportedly has a copy of the contract but does not have all the signatories.

PETCO also explained to Magpale that the high electricity bill of the CICC is because everything is centralized since the CICC was purposely made for the ASEAN summit. So even if only one room would be used, everything else would be turned on in the whole area, explained Magpale.

As a solution, air conditioning for example should be installed individually in each room.

Last year, the province reportedly paid P10.18 million for electricity alone.

For bills on water consumption, Magpale said that it would be the CICC management board who would be following up on the concern since there is another contract involved for the service.

Atty. Dara Acusar, capitol spokesperson for legal and media affairs, said earlier that upon review, the Capitol has a contract with a private company that supplies water for CICC at P60 per cubic meter which is higher than the P28 per cubic meter of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District.

Meanwhile, businessman and vice gubernatorial candidate Glenn Soco believes it would be better for the province to sell CICC or rent it out.

Soco said that the utility bills are just “microscopic details” on the financial stability of the CICC. Instead of making partnerships with other government units or aiding expenses by changing the facilities, Soco says selling it is better.

“No matter what measures they undertake, still the question there is its viability. Viable ba ang provincial government to operate it in the future.”

Soco says that the Province should not opt for an agreement with another government unit which the private sector can very well solve.

Magpale earlier said that they will be drafting a proposal for the possible partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways wherein the latter would take responsibility for the rehabilitation of the CICC into a “world class facility.”

This was following reports that heavy downpour causes leaking inside the CICC, subsequently causing interior damage. (FREEMAN)