‘I’m happy Mandaue bought CICC for P300-million’, says Davide.

The fire victims of Guizo-Mantuyong were temporarily taking shelter at the Cebu International Convention Center. (CDN FILE PHOTO)

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Political rivals Cebu Third District Representative Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III may not have met face-to-face during an elections-related forum organized today, Friday (April 5), but they were still able hit their opposing camp with arguments over the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) controversy.

While Garcia slammed Davide’s decision to leave the now-defunct CICC in Mandaue City to rot during her round in the same forum. Davide, for his part, responded by stating that he was ‘more than happy’ on selling the property to the Mandaue City government at a price tag of P300-million.

Gubernatorial Candidate and Representative Gwendolyn Garcia discusses the fate of the Cebu International Convention Center during the Mega Cebu Candidate Forum at the University of San Carlos on Friday, April 5. | Tonee Despojo

Davide, together with Cebu Vice Governor and gubernatorial candidate, Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, attended the Klarohay Ta! forum organized by Mega Cebu and held at the University of San Carlos (USC) today, April 5.

“I am happy that Mandaue City bought it for P300-million when we assumed office in 2013, I announced the Cebuanos that I won’t be paying a single-centavo to fix that building… We consulted a developer, who told us that if he were to buy it, he won’t because it’s scrap,” Davide said in a short speech he delivered.

“Thankfully, Mandaue, offered to buy it for P300 million,” he added.

Cebu Vice Gov Agnes Magpale, gubernatorial candidate (second from left), together with her running mate for Gov and Vice gubernatorial candidate, Hilario Davide lll (left), shares their views on several political issues in the Klarohay Ta forum of Mega Cebu at the Buttenbruch Hall in the University of San Carlos Downtown Campus. | CDN Digital Photo by Tonee Despojo

READ MORE: Gwen on CICC’s fate: It’s a lost opportunity

The governor has been vocal on his decision not to repair CICC which was constructed in 2006 at a cost of over P500-million.

However, the world-class arena, used to host two international summits held in Cebu City, suffered major infrastructural damage after receiving twin blows from the 7.2-magnitude earthquake and typhoon Yolanda in 2013 – a year after Garcia and 11 others were accused of allegedly overpricing its construction.

READ MORE: Gwen, 11 others to face graft charges over CICC project

READ MORE: Gwen hits Davide on detorioration of CICC

In 2017, the Cebu Provincial government and Mandaue City government entered into an agreement for the sale of the CICC, including the 3.2-hectare lot where it stood, located in the city’s North Reclamation Area./dbs

READ MORE: Mandaue now owns CICC