City convention center to rise at Megaworld site

A MULTI-MILLION peso new convention center in Iloilo City will soon rise at the Megaworld property in Mandurriao district, site of the old Iloilo airport, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said Wednesday.

He said Senator Franklin Drilon assured him of the project launching and groundbreaking slated on November 22.

Megaworld Corp. is donating a 1,600 square meters of lot to the City Government to be utilized for the construction of a two-storey building and exhibit halls costing some P450 million. The lot is worth some P100 million and construction is envisioned to be some six to eight months next year.

Construction funds will come from the senator’s priority development assistance fund.

Mabilog said the Tourism Infrastructure Economic Zone Authority assured assistance of the biggest convention center that will house more than 3,000 seats and exhibit halls.

The operation of the convention center will be bided out and a private sector firm is earmarked to operate the center.

Mabilog said the city is also bidding to host the Asia Pacific Economic Council meeting in 2015, adding that Iloilo is now capable to host such meeting of heads of states with a state-of-the art and modern convention center.