Governor Davide open to COA intervention in CICC appraisal

CEBU, Philippines - To avoid being questioned later, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said he is open to the Commission on Audit’s involvement in the assessment of the Cebu International Convention Center.

That is if the Capitol finally decides to dispose the mammoth property.

“Maypa tingali paapilon ang COA para di ta masangit sa. Maypa tingali ang COA pa-assess-son ana,” said Davide in an interview with the media.

Davide’s statement came after Mandaue City’s assessment of the CICC is only P200 million, a far cry from Capitol’s P600 million.

“Apilon nalang ang COA gyud para di ta ma-question nga ibaligya nato at a cheap price. Alkanse ang probinsya,” the governor said.

The CICC, built during the time of former governor Gwen Garcia for the 2007 ASEAN Summit, cost the province more than P800 million.

The lot where the structure was built is owned by the city government of Mandaue. The construction materialized following the signing of a memorandum of agreement on March 10, 2006 between Garcia, who represented the province, and former Mayor Thadeo Ouano, who represented the city.

Under the agreement, Cebu Province will construct the building on the 38,136 square meter-lot provided by the city.

The lot was valued at P457,632,000 while the building costs were P250 million. Both LGUs shall jointly manage the CICC, the MOA stipulated.

After the said ASEAN Summit in 2007, the building had been used as a venue for product exhibits, concerts, school events and others, until it was damaged by last year’s earthquake and typhoon.

After the series of calamities, the property has been unused and has not since been repaired as Davide said the Capitol will no longer spend for its repair or maintenance considering that it is not earning ever since.

Mandaue City, through its District Affairs consultant Carlo Fortuna, reasoned that their appraised value of the property is already net of the cost of the repair, which is pegged at more than P100 million.

Mandaue has already expressed interest in buying the property so it can use it as an exhibit venue for local products or convert it into a new city hall.

Davide said he already met with Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes last July 7 and that they talked about “engaging a private firm to assess the property…with the participation of COA.”

Meanwhile, talks are now ongoing for a third private appraiser to assess the value of the megastructure.

Mandaue City administrator James Abadia said the third private appraiser will determine the value of CICC amidst conflicting assessment made between the city and the provincial government.  (FREEMAN)