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Thursday, October 26, 2006
Me worried? No, says Cebu convention center architect
By Rose O. Versoza
CEBU CITY -- A day after he delivered a prayer offering his anxieties over the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), architect Manuel Guanzon denied that he is worried the facility might not be completed by November 15.
"I am not worried at all. That is just their impression that I am worried," Guanzon told reporters Wednesday after the joint meeting of the national organizing committee (NOC) and Cebu organizing committee (COC) for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in December.
However, Guanzon's prayer during the brief ceremony led by Rev. Fr. Dan de los Angeles at the CICC last Tuesday was clear that he admitted his worries.
"Pasaylo-a kami nga wa mi kahangyo nimo sa unahan pa. Basin nagduda ka nga nihangyo lang mi karon kay kuyawan mi nga dili mahuman. Tinuod gyud na Ginoo, kuyawan man mi so, amo gyud ni itugyan nimo," he said.
But Guanzon remains optimistic that he will be able to finish the project on time.
"In my 30 years, I always offer to God. Karon lang nakuyawan lang pud ko ug gamay kay moingon unya ang Ginoo, karon pa man mo nangayo nako og panabang. Di pa uwahi ang tanan, humanon ta gyud ni kay ato man ning ihalad kaniya. Ug magsige tag halad gikan karon hangtod sa Nov 15. mahuman ni nato basta ang ato kasingkasing ato gyud iyagyag sa atong trabaho," he had said.
When they hit all their targets for November 7, they will be 100 percent certain that they can meet the November 15 construction deadline.
After that date, only minor finishing touches will have to be done and they have about a month to work on it.
Summit organizers share Guanzon's optimism that the CICC will be completed in time for the Asean leaders' summit on December 11 to 14 even as they admit that they are also preparing some contingency measures.
Domingo Lucenario Jr., assistant secretary for administrative matters of the Asean NOC, said they remain focused on their main plan to use the facility for the summit.
"As we prepare for the program, it is given that there will be contingencies," Lucenario said, adding that they are now in the advanced stage of their preparations.
Guanzon said he presented during Wednesday's meeting the item-for-item benchmarks of the CICC, as well as the critical items involved in its construction, such as the tiling works, ceiling water-proofing and the final enclosure of the exterior walls.
He said they will have to go back to the working table on November 7 to review their work progress and schedules.
Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will be meeting with the CICC contractors on November 3 for an update on how they have been able to meet the deadlines for their specific items of work.
She said they are now working on the finishing touches and the main civil works have been completed.
Garcia revealed that during Wednesday's COC meeting, they requested those committees handling certain infrastructures and physical accomplishments to present target dates for the completion of the items of work.
As for his P1.5-million bet in favor of the CICC completion, Guanzon said there are no takers yet.
He said former Senator John Henry Osmeña was only joking when he offered to accept the bet but subject to certain conditions.
"They are just joking. They are privileged to their own entertainment. Deep in their hearts, I know they're also praying for its completion," Guanzon said. (With MBG of Sun.Star Cebu)
(October 26, 2006 issue)
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