Pimentel’s ‘scarecrow’

Ben Contreras .

VIEWERS of the unfinished International Convention Center (ICC) story posted on Facebook had a brief altercation over the issue at hand. While most comments have been critical, Bro. Derek Cerro who claimed to be close to Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, admonished everyone to make an ocular inspection to see what is now being done about it. He was very emphatic that what is being done will make it very beautiful and grand.

While the arguments were a bit heated, boarding on insults, I obliged and went in the morning of April 4. I invited Robert de la Serna to join me but he declined due to earlier commitments.

But first, how does an ICC look like? In my attempt to research on it, I came across what the Philippine International Convention Center looks like. Wow! Would we see something like it in the near future?

Going back to that “scarecrow” up there, almost half a billion was already spent on it. How? Perhaps our Commission on Audit would like to investigate it and find out.

Today, another P324 million will be spent on it. How Jejors got the project is of no moment. Ugh, I hate that steep and winding road going up. But I had to. So, there you are, standing very tall, with façade of clear glass sheets. The view of the city from the top is superb.

At first, the guard was reluctant to let me in. And when I finally entered the building, I asked the laborers what they think of the place. “Murag dakong bulangan, Sir.” Everybody laughed.

It’s not all bad really. I saw the design and it looks good but mind you, good as international cockpit, not like the PICC. Oh yes, far from it.

Perhaps, it was a misnomer. If there is an intention to make the ground an alternate for a basketball court, then how can it be an ICC? Instead of tiles, the ground will use wood tiles to meet the basketball court standards.

My friend Ingrid Agudo who saw the photos of the convention center said an auditorium or a gym would have been more apt to describe it. De la Serna agreed.

Is the place secure and safe? Well, there would be a perimeter fence and it looks nice. But there is no alternate road in case of emergency. You go up through that steep and winding road and you go down the same way. I don’t think it’s safe in an emergency. Imagine more than a hundred cars racing down for safety.

My brother Cerro is correct. Pachada kayo. But to call it ICC is something we all cannot agree with. And if you don’t agree with my observation, I am inviting everyone to go up there and see the “scarecrow” of Nene Pimentel.

Half a billion already wasted. Would another P324 million matter? Berto will surely be mad. Right, Berto?

Oh yes, P324 million. That’s quite a handsome amount. This reminds me of a text message I received: “The problem with infra project of DPWH is that, from the approved budget, 5% sa congressman, 3% sa District Engineer, 3% for buy-out, 7% tax withheld, 5% bid dive, sometime lower even up to 20%, other congressmen 10%. What will happen to the actual delivery of project? The end user will always suffer and of course, sub-standard very cheap project because of corruption.” So, you see!

Joking aside, I feel that P324 million to finish the half-done project is too big. Suroya ra gani ninyo!

Berto will do his own investigation. He is good at it. You probably will enjoy his report much more than mine. Watch for it!