DPWH defends P747M project Convention center ‘not overpriced’

CEBU, Philippines -  The Department of Public Works and Highways-6 has defended the construction of the controversial P747 million Iloilo Convention Center.

Engineer Edilberto Tayao, DPWH-6 director, said there was nothing overpriced and that the structure is, in fact, "within the standard."

The ICC, located in Megaworld's Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, was partly financed by funds which Senate President Franklin Drilon received from the Disbursement Acceleration Program.

With a total floor area of 6,500 square meters and sitting on a 1.7-hectare land, it is built by Hilmarc's Construction Corporation, the same contractor of the controversial Makati City Hall Building II.

It will be a three-story building to include the mezzanine floor although with a height of 28 meters, Tayao said it is equivalent to a seven to eight-story structure.

The Phase 1 of the project, which covers the building construction excluding fixtures, is expected to be completed by November this year. Phase 1 costs P492 million.

The project's Phase 2 will include the fixtures, putting up of two escalators and painting and tile works.

"But it's still up for bidding," Tayao said.

The Phase 3, or site development, is excluded from the P747-million fund.

Meanwhile, Tayao said he could not comment on the plunder case filed by former Iloilo second district representative Augusto Syjuco against Drilon and President Benigno Aquino on the "overpriced" ICC building because he has yet to see the complaint sheet.

Also, Kabataan partylist Representative Terry Ridon has filed House Resolution 1466 which urged the House committee on Public Works and Highways to probe HCC for clinching big construction projects of the government.

Ridon pointed out that ICC is even costlier than the world-renowned Beijing National Stadium in terms of building price at P109,375 per square meter compared to the Olympic Games venue's P79,216.

But Tayao said he is open to any investigation.

"No problem. Legal naman lahat 'yan. Pupunta po ako 'pag ipinatawag," he added.

Tayao justified, though, that the building could not be compared to the construction materials used in Metro Manila structures owing to the cost of transportation to Iloilo.

He added that the ICC will be operational by March 2015, in time for Iloilo City's hosting of two ministerial meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. /JMD (FREEMAN)