Megaworld to attend Senate probe on alleged ICC overprice

Megaworld Corp. is willing to send a representative before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to shed light on why the property developer donated to the Department of Tourism the land where the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) now stands.

 

During the panel hearing Thursday on the alleged overpriced construction of the ICC, Senate President Franklin Drilon said the land where the public building sits was donated by the listed property firm.

 

Megaworld communications head Harold Geronimo told GMA News Online that the company will comply if asked by the Senate to attend a subsequent hearing on the issue. Senator Nancy Binay had called for another hearing with a Megaworld representative in attendance to discuss why the property firm donated the land.

 

The company made the donation to the DOT for the convention center on November 13, 2012, Drilon told the committee. The donation consisted of 17,371 square meters.

 

The land forms part of the 54.5-hectare Iloilo Business Park encompassing the old Iloilo Airport that Megaworld bought from the national government in 2007 for P1.2 billion in cash.

 

Ideal site

 

According to Drilon, the development of the ICC stemmed from the struggles of the hotel industry in Iloilo, particularly the low occupancy rates in the second quarter of 2012. Industry representatives noted that a modern convention center can stimulate growth in Western Visayas by hosting local and international events, the senator added.

 

"There was a suggestion the property being developed by Megaworld, the site of the old airport, would be an ideal site for a project such as a convention center of international standard," Drilon said.

 

On July 3, 2012, Drilon with several prominent citizens of Iloilo met Megaworld chairman and CEO Andrew Tan to discuss the possibility of constructing a convention center on the Megaworld site.

 

"(Tan) immediately agreed and committed to donate a portion of their area," Drilon noted.

 

Megaworld, for its part, confirmed Drilon's pronouncements. "Everything Senator Drilon stated is all true. But we cannot comment on the facts of the donation," Geronimo said.

 

Overprice allegations

 

Last month, former Iloilo Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada filed charges against Drilon, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., and Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson in connection with the alleged overpriced construction of the convention center.

 

Apart from donating the land, Megaworld nominated renowned architect William Coscolluela to execute the design which was also donated. Hilmarc's Construction Co., meanwhile, was the building contractor.

 

Hilmarc’s is the same contractor of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II, which is currently under investigation by the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee. 

 

Vice President Jejomar Binay, his son Makati Mayor Junjun Binay and several other Makati officials are facing plunder and graft charges over the issue. 

 

Senator Nancy is the Vice President's daughter. — VS/JST, GMA News