Friday, February 01, 2008 CICC earned P15M in 6 months
AMID continuing questions about the cost of building the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia reported that it has earned P15 million since its opening last year.
Bookings up to a year in advance have also been accepted at the facility.
The CICC was among the subjects Garcia tackled in her presentation before the recent Euromoney Infrastructure Conference in Dubai, attended by more than 200 business owners from around the world.
Elizabeth Francia, the governor’s chief of staff, said that the P15 million represented accumulated earnings since the CICC began operating last year.
It costs P400,000 to P700,000 a month to maintain and operate the facility, she added.
Properties
In her presentation, Garcia also reiterated that the Capitol is set to recover P20 billion worth of properties, which will be added to the P6 billion worth of properties the Province already has.
The audiovisual presentation was shown to reporters yesterday.
She also told the conference Cebu is “the premier province of the country,” with P12 billion in assets and zero debt.
Even the “dancing inmates” of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center merited a mention in her speech.
In an interview conducted after her presentation, Garcia’s most applauded statement was, “I can only speak as governor and not as president” to which her interviewer answered, “Not yet.”
In her press conference back in Cebu yesterday, Garcia said she presented her plans for the province before the executives of Dubai World Group, a government-owned conglomerate.
The company hosted a dinner for Garcia and President Arroyo last Monday.
Dubai World Group has expressed its interest in investing in Cebu, particularly in an international port. A report in the Manila Standard Today quoted Trade Secretary Peter Favila as saying the conglomerate operates 42 terminals in 22 countries, and wants to develop similar facilities in Cebu and Subic. (KNT)
