NRA seen as ‘economic powerhouse’

CEBU, Philippines —  The Mandaue City government is working towards developing the North Reclamation Area (NRA) into an “economic powerhouse.”

"We feel that this entire reclamation area will become an economic powerhouse in the years to come considering the several developments that will be coming up in the area," reelectionist Mayor Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing said during yesterday’s Mega Cebu Candidates Forum 2019.

Among the developments is the conversion of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) into an entertainment complex.

The mayor said the project would generate massive employment and would bring in immense profits considering its proximity to the airport and sea ports.

The complex features a casino, convention halls and residential establishment, among others.

Quisumbing said the multi-billion project is seen to boost the city’s economic growth.

The construction of the complex will be at no cost to the city government, he said.

The Millenium Pan-Asia Hotel and Resorts Inc. (MPAHRI) is in charge of developing the property. MPAHRI won the Swiss challenge, a form of bidding for big-ticket projects.

Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna said the entertainment complex dubbed as "Infinite City” is worth $300 million.

"This will be the next exciting destination in the province of Cebu," he said.

The city is also eyeing at renaming the 181-hectare NRA as the Mandaue Central Business District. The NRA was reclaimed during the administration of former Mandaue City Mayor Alfredo "Pedong" Ouano.

In August 2017, the Capitol agreed to sell the 33,000-square meter CICC building to the city government for P300 million.

CICC was a major venue during the 2007 ASEAN Summit but was damaged in 2013 after the magnitude 7.2 earthquake and super typhoon Yolanda. It was declared later as inoperable.

The P850-million property was also a subject of an Ombudsman case filed against former governor Gwendolyn Garcia for alleged violations of the procurement law and anti-graft law.

Garcia, who is gunning for the governorship anew, earlier said somebody should be held accountable for the sale of CICC. — KBQ (FREEMAN)