CCP complex gets facelift for IPU meet

All dressed up and ready for her fancy guests. But the new look cost a pretty penny.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex along Roxas Boulevard is looking its best for the 112th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) general assembly, which opens tonight at the CCP Main Theater. The conference will be led by President Arroyo and IPU president Sen. Sergio Verdugo Paez of Chile.

But the makeover wasn’t cheap, with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which owns the building, picking up the undisclosed tab for the repair and facelift.

The five-day meeting, which gathers together 1,500 parliamentarians from all over the world, will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), which underwent major work to repair damage caused by a fire several years ago. The 29-year-old building, opened in 1976 for the IMF-World Bank meeting, also underwent significant cleaning and refurbishing work.

The upgrading of the CCP complex, however, was a much larger task and necessitated a joint effort of individuals and organizations. Faced with the lack of funds of the CCP to undertake the numerous repairs, Senate President Franklin Drilon, who is hosting the IPU meeting, shelled out P12.8 million from his pork barrel for the project.

This included P4.3 million for repair of the marble facade of the CCP main building, pieces of which had been falling off, forcing the closure of the main ramp to prevent accidents; P4.2 million for the repair and upgrading of all toilet facilities in the building; P2.8 million for grounds lighting for the complex; P1.5 million for the cleaning and repair of the fountain and lagoon. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chipped in an additional P1.2 million to complete the grounds lighting.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan and Rep. Ricky Sandoval (Malabon-Navotas) gave P5 million and P2 million respectively for a new air-conditioning system to replace the 36-year-old system, installed when the center was constructed in 1969.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) upgraded the roads, including access to the President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, at a cost of over P8 million.

Despite serious financial constraints, the CCP shelled out nearly P5 million from its P115-million annual appropriation to undertake minor repairs to the building, replacing frayed and discolored carpets as well as providing landscaping and beautification for the areas around the main building, including the purchase of indoor and outdoor plants.

CCP president Nestor Jardin, who oversaw and coordinated the project, said that the landscaping of the 88-hectare complex was completed with the cooperation of most of the tenants and lessees, such as the Amazing Philippines group which occupies the Manila Film Center, the Westin Philippine Plaza, the Day by Day Ministries which leases the Folk Arts Theater, and the Manila Jumbo Palace and Gloriamaris restaurants.

"We requested them to landscape the areas around their buildings, and although that is not part of their contracts of lease, we are very grateful that they all agreed, and even went beyond their immediate areas in cleaning up and landscaping," Jardin told The STAR.

The CCP is also handling tonight’s grand opening ceremonies, as well as a cultural presentation for the delegates on April 6 involving over 600 artists from all over the country. Both events will be held at the CCP Main Theater.

Drilon defended the expenses for the IPU, saying that the tremendous amount of publicity and goodwill that the meeting will generate for the country is worth the expense. In addition, he pointed out, the 1,500 delegates will be spending on hotels and other expenses, not only in Manila, but also in the country’s various tourist spots.

For the perennially cash-strapped CCP, the IPU is a big boon, since it finally allowed long-needed repairs, renovations and maintenance work to be done.

"We have been trying to raise funds for a long time for badly needed repairs, like the air conditioning, facade and toilets," Jardin said. "We are very happy and grateful that these have now been done." — Doreen Yu