RCF hits multi-million IN convention center project “THIS would be the fourth ‘white elephant’ project of the province.” This was the reaction of former Laoag Mayor Roger C. Fariñas on the recently approved P475-million hotel and convention center project of the Ilocos Norte government. In the said project, the provincial government entered into a loan agreement with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to finance its construction. According to Fariñas, among the “white elephants” the provincial government has constructed include the Bannawag Bodega, or warehouse, the flue-curing barn in Batac, and the feedmill in Marcos, Ilocos Norte, which are all either no longer operational or are operating minimally. “Saan ko met nga ikar-kararag ngem makitak ket saying a gastos iti probinsiya. Ken diak pay pulos nakapuot iti probinsiya a mangipatakder iti bukod na a hotel. Di kad ngarud kompetensyaem dagiti babassit nga hotel ditoy,” Fariñas said. Though admitting the project would create additional employment opportunities in the province, he stressed that it should have also been considered if there would be a return of investment. Fariñas cited city government projects which also necessitated bank loans but which became self-liquidating. These, he said, are the Laoag City Commercial Complex (LCCC) and the central terminal. He explained that these major projects, which were planned and completed during his nine-year term as mayor of the city, had been paying for the their own loan’s principal and interests. Records had shown that the LCCC loan, which had a total of P140 million, has made a four-year advance payment while the central terminal has a two-year advance in terms of payment schedule. The LCCC loan was supposed to be paid in full in 2013 but because of the advance payment made by the city government, it would be paid in full in 2009. The central terminal, on the other hand, was scheduled to be fully paid in 2010 but with the two-year advance payment, it would be paid in full in 2008. In relation to this, Fariñas said the proposed hotel and convention center should also be self-liquidating and should not be paid from the internal revenue allotment (IRA) share of the provincial government. The three-term Laoag mayor also suggested that instead of constructing a new edifice, the provincial government should have just converted the Centennial Arena into a convention center. “Adda ngata inaldaw nga umay ag-convention ditoy iti 1,000 a tattao? Narigat to pay ta once a month. Ket adda met mangayat a mapan iti sabali a lug-lugar,” Fariñas pointed out. The former mayor however maintained that even with the plan of the provincial government to put up its own hotel, local hotel owners should not worry since people would prefer to stay in hotels within the city proper or in areas near them instead of going to a hotel farther away and more expensive at that. “Adda ngata met mapan idiay ngem sumag-mamano laeng no di ket dagitay opisyales laeng iti gobyerno ken dagiti pamilya da ket baka libren to pay. Isu a saying a ginastusan iti probinsiya dayta. Mayat a ta adu’t napatakderen no gobernador ngem ‘white elephant’ met amin,” Fariñas added. The groundbreaking rites for the said project, which would be located in Barangay Balacad, Laoag City is expected next month after the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the DBP and the provincial government was held this September. Earlier, Ilocos Norte Governor Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said that though the provincial government would be responsible for the construction of the convention center, the management would be given to private individuals to avoid politicking. The said project has been one of Marcos’ dream for the province and the governor is optimistic it would generate more investments, job opportunities and tourist visits to the province. Meanwhile, Hotels and Restaurants Association of Laoag and Ilocos Norte (HARALIN) President Yvonne B. Ranada welcomed the proposed hotel and convention center as she said even if it would become a competitor for them, the province really needs more hotels and a big convention center since existing hotels in Ilocos Norte could not accommodate groups which have more than 3,000 delegates. Dominic B. dela Cruz
Other related story:
|
|