Chief organizer sure CICC will be finished on time

Ambassador Marciano Paynor, Jr., 12th ASEAN Summit-National Organizing Committee (NOC) chairman has thrown his support behind Archt. Manuel Guanzon and the workforce at the CICC, saying he believes that the project will be completed on time.

Guanzon, on the other hand, said that he won't back out from the P1.5 million bet on the Cebu International Convention Center against former Senator John henry 'Sonny' Osmeña despite the fact that he was just saying it in jest.

The NOC and Cebu Organizing Committee (COC) had a joint meeting at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday.

"We are almost to the end of the preparations. We only one-and-a-half month to go so preparations are full blast," Paynor said.

The organizing committee members were also happy to announce that funds from the national government for the Summit preparations have been released. Paynor would not however divulge to the media how much was released to them, but a report by television network ABS-CBN said it was P1.2 billion, P300 million higher than the projected P900-million earlier reported budget from the national government.

On the other hand, Guanzon expressed dismay to Cebu media when after the tour with Gov. Gwen Garcia and Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano and other officials at the CICC site the actual accomplishment on the project was not the issue given emphasis.

In an interview over DYLA yesterday, Guanzon said that the tour lasted about one and a half hours to see what is actually being done inside. However, what he said about increasing the bet by a million for a total of P1.5-million for just a few seconds was hyped.

Although he has not yet received the letter of Osmeña and just learned about it through the papers, Guanzon said that he is honored if he can meet the former senator and sit down and discuss the matter in a friendly manner.

They don't know each other personally, but Guanzon said he respects the former Senator.

Osmeña has accepted the bet of Guanzon about the completion of the CICC by November 15, but on certain conditions.

But Guanzon said, it is impossible that Osmeña will get all his conditions like the detailed engineering plans, scope of work, the program of works and estimates, the bill of materials and vouchers for materials purchased and delivered.

Another condition that would be difficult to meet would be the request of Osmeña that he or his representatives be granted a 24-hour access to the building site so that they will be able to check the compliance with the engineering plans.

Guanzon said that the plans as well as the access to the site are beyond his control and Osmeña has to make his request to Ambassador Paynor for such since he is the one, who controls giving such for security reason.

However, Guanzon has accepted the other condition to have a board or panel of evaluators to be tasked to inspect and determine whether the structural, architectural, electrical, mechanical and other specialty works have been installed and functioning by November 15.

But the project architect said that he should know who will compose the panel and to make sure that the members are better than the one to be evaluated.

As to where to deposit the money, Guanzon said that he may give his bet to Osmeña to be the one to keep it without having it to be deposited in a bank since he has trust him being a former senator.

A lawyer has however warned Guanzon and Osmeña of the legal consequence of their betting. Fritz Quiñanola said, the two could be charged for illegal gambling in violation of the Presidential Decree 1602.

Quiñanola said their bet whether or not the CICC would be finished on the deadline is considered an illegal gambling. But, for the Bureau of Internal Revenue it does not matter whether it is legal or not because the national government will be benefit from it.

BIR regional director Jaime Santiago said that whoever wins should pay an income tax. The government is expected to collect 20 percent or P300,000 income tax from whoever wins.

A well-known contractor and former president of the Cebu Contractors Association, Engr. Pericles Dakay, yesterday opined that the project will be completed on time.

Dakay said that all the necessary ingredients to fast-track the project are available to the contractor. Dakay said that technical and human ingredients are readily available.

"I believe they have the resolve and the commitment to finish," Dakay said. According to Dakay, he has worked with Guanzon in the past and he has known him to have a very practical approach to projects. -with Cristina C. Birondo/NLQ