President Benigno S. Aquino III was impressed by the design of the Iloilo Convention Center, which is currently under construction.
In his visit and inspection with Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and DPWH Secretary Rogelio . Singson last June 27, 2014, President Aquino compared Iloilo Convention Center to the famous opera house in Australia. “Oh parang Sydney Opera House,” he said.
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts center. It has a modern expressionist design with series of large precast concrete shells.
Iloilo Convention Center is a sail-like design structure, representing the Iloilo Paraw Regatta while the glasses will be etched with drawings of Dinagyang warriors, hence making the convention center one of the symbols of Iloilo.
The convention center, with an allocation of approximately P700.00 Million is also being constructed as Iloilo City pushes for venue hosting of the two ministerial meetings of the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Located in a 1.7-hectare lot at the Iloilo Business Park, the Convention Center is designed to accommodate more than 3,700 people with the construction activities expected to be completed before the end of the year 2014.
The project is one of the priority infrastructure projects initiated by Ilonggo Senator and Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, designed to position Iloilo as a prime convention destination in Western Visayas.
According to Senator Drilor, the convention center is a realization of a lifelong dream of the residents of Panay Island – to have their own impressive and sophisticated convention center at par with those of Cebu and Davao.