Overpricing issue may spoil Iloilo’s hosting of APEC meet – Drilon

MANILA, Philippines - The controversy over the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) project has led to a delay in its completion that could spoil the bid of the city to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meetings next year.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, the target of the allegations of overpricing in the ICC project, lamented the accusations made by his former consultant, Manuel Mejorada, were “directly responsible for the failure of bidding for the second phase of the ICC’s construction.”

Citing the statements of Department of Public Works and Highways Region VI director Edilberto Tayao, Drilon pointed out the ICC project is now facing delays because of the apprehensions of contractors to participate in the bidding for the second phase.

According to Tayao, several contractors with the capability to complete a project as big as the ICC did not join the bidding for phase two of the project while those who participated were hesitant to submit a bid lower than P200 million.

Tayao explained the approved budget of contract for the second phase was pegged at P187 million, so any bids above that figure would not be considered.

He added the major contractors who had previously participated in the bidding for the ICC’s first phase did not join the second bidding last Oct. 20.

Tayao said the delays have led to its target completion now being moved from March to May or June of 2015.

Iloilo has been selected to host the APEC ministerial meetings in September 2015 and the ICC would serve as the venue for the events.

Tayao explained it would take another month to find a qualified contractor for phase two of the project because of the failed bidding.

“If that second bidding also fails, we then have to go into a negotiated bidding, as permitted under law,” he said.

Drilon aired his frustration over the damage brought about by the “malicious and baseless allegations against the construction of the ICC.”

“Contractors and other participants are getting afraid that their names and businesses will be the next target of lies being concocted, and that their names will be dragged into the issue,” Drilon said.

“It is unfortunate that just because of lies, and of spiteful and baseless allegations hurled against the project and its proponents and implementers, Ilonggos could lose the opportunity of hosting the 2015 APEC meetings, along with all the tourism and economic development prospects that this event brings,” he added.

The allegations of overpricing and kickbacks supposedly received by Drilon and other government officials from the ICC project became the basis for an investigation conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.

In its first hearing held two weeks ago, Mejorada admitted before the Blue Ribbon committee that he has no evidence to back up his claims and his information was derived from online sources such as Wikipedia and “whispers” by unnamed sources.

Drilon faced Mejorada during the hearing and belied the allegations made against him and the ICC project.

“I have nothing to hide, and I will hide nothing. But this sinister agenda of some should not spoil the progress of Ilonggos, who have been trying to achieve their dreams of progress in the past years, made possible by opportunities provided by the present administration,” Drilon said.