Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The construction of the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) will be extended to August this year, instead of the original target of July, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways – Region 6 (DPWH-6).
DPWH-6 Regional Director Edilberto Tayao said the ICC is already 98% done, but additional works forced them to extend the construction period.
“Alam naman natin na ang Phase 1 ay matagal ng natapos at yung Phase 2 is already around 98%, where the remaining 2% will go to the removal of the scaffolding and furnishing,” he said.
The Phase 2 of the ICC project includes installation of electrical and other amenities, which was supposed to end last Friday (July 31).
Tayao said they can’t finish the said project since they have to go through a lot of testing, including the delivery of the elevator and putting up of the two escalators.
“We’re just waiting for the connection to the PECO (Panay Electric Co.) so we can start for the testing,” Tayao added. The ICC’s electrical testing was conducted from Friday until Saturday (August 1).
Tayao claimed that the DPWH-6 is a hundred percent sure that the ICC will be finished before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings.
The ICC will be the main venue of three APEC meetings in September and October.
He said that members of the APEC local organizing committee visited the building last Friday to assess the progress and find out what materials are needed for the meetings.
“The facilities for the meeting will be under the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), however, we in the DPWH will help them,” Tayao said.
Tayao said they will also work on the parking area around ICC since it is one of the concerns of the delegates.
“We will work on it in the remaining one month. That will still be part of the construction,” he said.
