P10-M convention center opens in Caloocan

Caloocan City Rep. Luis "Baby" Asistio inaugurated yesterday a P10-million state-of-the-art convention center located within the Caloocan City Central Elementary School compound on 10th Avenue.

Named after his late father and former Caloocan City mayor, the Macario B. Asistio Sr. Convention Center is equipped with the latest audio and video technology and was designed to accommodate at least 1,000 people.

"This project was built primarily for educational purposes, but the public has the right to use this facility," Asistio said during the turnover ceremony at 10 a.m.

"This is first in Caloocan," Cenon Mayor, president of the Kalookan Assistance Council Inc. (KACI), Asistio’s project coordinator, said.

KACI donated 300 plastic monobloc chairs for the convention center’s use.

City Schools superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Manalo, Caloocan Central School principal Lilia Cruz and supervisor Remedios Estrera, with hundreds of students, parents, faculty members, barangay officials and local leaders, expressed their gratitude to Asistio for the project.

Engraved at the building’s marker apart from the congressman’s name, was the name of his constant companion, the late Mariles Cacho-Romulo, in which through her appeal to Asistio, the convention center for the people of Caloocan City was built.

Simultaneously inaugurated with the convention center was the adjacent three-story, six-classroom building, another pet project of Asistio. Sen. Serge Osmeña provided the P3-million funding for the project.

Last week, Asistio also inaugurated a three-story, six classrooms school building at Lerma Elementary School in Maypajo.

As part of Asistio’s commitment to look after the health needs of his constituents, especially in the depressed areas, a week-long medical missions were held in six barangays in Dagat-Dagatan last week. – Pete Laude