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Sunday, January 08, 2006
Glo okays design, wants enough presidential suites
President Arroyo is impressed by the design of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) that will be put up in Cebu for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Ministers’ Summit in December.
“Beautiful, world-class and very similar to other venues in the past summits,” she said, after the modified design was presented before Malacañang officials in her visit to Cebu yesterday.
The President is optimistic the summit will go on smoothly, and she is counting on the commitment of Cebuano officials.
She cited the success of her oathtaking ceremony in Cebu in 2004, which Cebuano officials only had five days to prepare for.
Sixteen heads of states are expected to arrive in Cebu for the Asean summit this year.
President Arroyo refused to comment on the limited time Cebu has to build the CICC, saying only that it will be up to the officials to beat the deadline.
She added that she is “not micro-managing” the preparations and is giving Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr. a free hand.
Paynor played a major role in the preparation for the recent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the Philippines, as well as for her oathtaking in Cebu.
Suites
“He knows the job better than I do,” she said.
Asked whether Arroyo had any special instructions for the Asean summit’s spadework, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said: “Just make sure Cebu has enough presidential suites for the heads of state.”
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, meanwhile, said there’s no need to ask Arroyo for any exemptions to hurry up with the construction.
The new law on government procurement already provides simplified procedures, she said.
The Capitol is still studying which of the alternative methods they will use to speed up construction of the CICC.
Following the standard procurement procedure would take 30 weeks in choosing the contractor alone.
Capitol will spend the P250 million for the facility.
The original design that architect Alexus Medalla made was for a multi-event facility, but the province will focus on building a convention center that can be expanded later for other uses.
Capitol has tapped the services of Engr. Adonis Compendio, a construction management expert, and Apollo Enriquez, a foundation specialist.
Construction is targeted to start in February. (MBG)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 7, 2006 issue)
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