CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–“After several years in the making, accompanied with left and right controversies upon its suspension from year 2012 to 2016, the CDO Convention Center’s main building is finally completed.”
Citing the region’s milestone, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-10 Regional Director Zenaida Tan added that the event seals a mark of confederation as the department also officially turns over the facility to Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) stewardship, September 8.
Initially funded in 2000 with P125 million, the Cagayan de Oro City Convention Center is built to support various events like sports, concerts, conventions, exhibits, seminars, conferences, and trade shows that will be held in the city.
The Cagayan de Oro City Complex is designed to accommodate 7,700 people. DPWH-10 has already requested funding for the rest of the facilities including the pavilion, car park, deck with helipad, view deck, power house, sewage treatment plant facility, materials recovery facility, and pump house.
A total of P1.335 billion is needed to completely satisfy the TIEZA requirements in making the convention center globally competitive, DPWH Sec. Mark Villar said.
“Now that the completion of the main building is realized, CDO will further ignite economic development through investments, infrastructure improvements, and tourism,” the secretary added.
For his part, TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid said the center, which was envisioned by the late Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., is a great help to boost the region’s tourism, especially with the onslaught of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sa pamamagitan ng ating convention center na ito, tayo ang magiging host ng mga trade at corporate related events. Hindi lang ‘yun, pati ‘yung ating mga tourism events, ‘yung leisures nandyan, ‘yung mga exhibitions magagawa natin lahat diyan at makapagbigay tayo ng maraming trabaho sa ating mga kababayan,” Lapid added.
(Through this convention center, we will become the host of trade and corporate related events. We can also host tourism events, leisures, exhibitions, and we can also provide many jobs to our constituents)
The construction continued after its suspension in 2012 as the Magtajas family donated the land where the complex is located. The project was then funded in 2017 with P350 million, 2018 (P100 million), 2020 (P214 million).
Even at its early stage of construction, the convention center has already helped the locals in the area through employment and boost in sales of nearby stores.
“The completion of the Cagayan de Oro Convention Center, which stands two decades, demonstrates our resolve and commitment to pursue into fruition our development goals and aspirations. Amid a pandemic, we are able to offer the region with a landmark that can host regional, national, and even international gatherings,” National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director Mylah Faye Cariño said. (RTP/PIA-10)