‘Capitol Will Not Fix CICC’

Because of its repair cost, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said the provincial government will no longer fix the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) and instead plans to dispose it or make partnership for its repairs with other entities.

“I don’t think it’s wise nga ipaayo. We spend several millions for something that could not earn,” said Davide.

Davide said international events like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation to be held next year and the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016 are seeking for a big venue like the CICC, but with the current situation of the building, it could “not become a likely candidate”.

The governor said even if the capitol would decide to fix it and spend millions for it, it would still not be feasible.

“If we decide to fix it, mogasto nasad og millions, ‘nya mag-dalidali. Tingali dili maayo ang pagkabuhat. Busa out of the question nana ang CICC,” he said.

The convention center, which was built during the term of former Governor and now congresswomen Gwen Garcia, was badly damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in October last year. The center was also affected by super typhoon Yolanda that followed the earthquake a few weeks later.

“Kana man gud pagtukod ana, gidalidali na,” Davide said.

Meanwhile, Davide said offers to assume the ownership of the CICC are still open.

Mandaue City earlier expressed its intention to purchase the property, but Davide said they still don’t have the figures for the selling price. He said the provincial assessor is still in the process of assessing the value of the said property in parallel to Mandaue City’s own assessment.

“Deteriorate nana . Guba naman kaayo. That’s the situation there, that’s why we are looking for ways if we partner with another LGU or a PPP (private-public partnership) or we give it up all together,” Davide said.