Mandurriao, Iloilo City
14 September 2015

President Benigno S. Aquino III was warmly welcomed by the Ilonggos in their home province as he visited the capital for the inauguration of the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC).

With a state-of-the-art design inspired by Iloilo’s ‘Dinagyang’ and ‘Paraw’ festivals, the ICC is a world-class convention and events destination hub that can accommodate large sized conferences, summits, congresses, fairs, trade shows and exhibits for more than 3,700 people.

President Aquino led the unveiling of the project marker inside the convention center and toured its facilities before proceeding to the program proper.

“Kongkretong halimbawa po itong Iloilo Convention Center na sa Daang Matuwid, ang pera ng bayan, napupunta sa taumbayan lamang.  Ang halaga ng proyektong ito: 713.31 million pesos…Ang good news nga po: Nakatakda na itong gamitin para sa malalaking pagtitipon tulad ng sa Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation hanggang Oktubre,” the President said.

Apart from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Iloilo Convention Center is part of the effort to develop and promote tourism in the province, as well as in the Western Visayas region.

“Kita naman natin, ngayon pa lang, sulit na sulit na ang pakinabang ng gusaling ito, at pihado namang higit pang lalawak ang maidudulot nitong benepisyo.  May humihirit na nga po: humanda na raw ang iba pang mauunlad na lalawigan, dahil talagang wala nang makaka-awat sa pag-asenso ng Iloilo,” President Aquino added.

The two-storey ICC is located on a 1.7-hectare lot donated by Megaworld Corporation within the Iloilo Business Park.  It was built through the partnership and full support of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

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