ICC ready in time for APEC summit next year

MANILA, Philippines - The construction of the allegedly overpriced Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) will be completed before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit next year, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said yesterday.

The P700-million ICC, considered as Senate President Franklin Drilons pet project, is being eyed as the venue for the APEC ministerial meetings in Iloilo.

However, DPWH-Region 6 recently declared a failure of bidding for phase two of the ICC construction, which covers the painting, tile works, plumbing, installation of electrical and mechanical features, and sphinx aluminum clogging.

DPWH regional director Edilberto Tayao admitted that the controversy hounding the ICC somehow affected the construction of the building.

He said some contractors might have had reservations about joining the bidding for phase two of the construction for fear that they might be dragged into allegations of overpricing.

The DPWH-Region 6 has scheduled a re-bidding in early January 2015, and Tayao hopes that many eligible and qualified contractors will participate.

Granting that the construction for phase two will start in February 2015, it is safe to say that the ICC building will be completed by June or July, he added.

As of Tuesday, Tayao said phase one of the ICC construction is 97.4 percent complete.

Phase two has a budget of P200 million, part of the P700-million budget for the whole ICC construction project.

The site development, which will cost P20 million to P30 million to be sourced from DPWH savings, might be done simultaneously with the phase two works.

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ICC ready in time for APEC summit next year