“Never again...” banner at CICC draws questions

CEBU, Philippines - A huge yellow banner containing the words “NEVER AGAIN…” is displayed prominently at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) but Capitol officials, curiously, said yesterday they have no idea why and who put it up.

Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino said he knew nothing about the banner and referred questions to provincial information officer Ethel Natera who gave the same response.

Provincial Engineer Hector Jamora, a member of the CICC appraisal committee, told The Freeman he only came to know about the banner when informed by media.

“Wala man pod koy nabantayan nga tig-agi man ko diha,” he said. Jamora lives in Mandaue City.

Both Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale were unable to give comment. Davide was in Manila with President Benigno Simeon Aquino III while Magpale was attending a medical mission in Sibonga town.

Located at the North Reclamation Area, the P800 million worth CICC was built in 2006 during the time of then governor Gwendolyn Garcia to house meetings and events related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

The structure also suffered severe damage when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake rocked Bohol and Cebu in October 2013 and when super typhoon Yolanda hit barely a month after, but while managed by Capitol, the province has not spent “even a single centavo” repair, contending, it has not been earning.

The facility is also the subject of the pending graft case with the Ombudsman involving Garcia.

Davide and Garcia belong to opposing political parties. Davide is with Aquino’s Liberal Party while Garcia is with local party One Cebu, which supported Gibo Teodoro for president in 2013.

Garcia’s brother, Winston, will be going against Davide for governor in 2016. Her other brother, Pablo John, ran against but lost to Davide in 2013.

The Department of Trade and Industry earlier signified interest to fund the rehabilitation of CICC and develop it into an international trade exhibition center. — Michael Vencynth H. Braga/JMO (FREEMAN)