Guimaras Arena and Convention Center breaks ground

The Provincial Government of Guimaras headed by Governor JC Rahman A. Nava MD, in collaboration with USWAG Ilonggo Partylist, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Office of Congresswoman Ma. Lucille L. Nava, MD celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for the Guimaras Arena and Convention Center on August 30, 2024 at the Provincial Capitol Grounds, San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras.

The multi-million project is a state-of-the art facility that is expected to enhance tourism, events, and economic growth not only in the province but in the entire Western Visayas. Scheduled for completion in 2027, the three-storey Guimaras Arena and Convention Center will cover 7,902 square meters of lot. The arena has a total floor area of 9,653 square meters and a seating capacity of 4,500. Meanwhile, the Convention Center has 6,690 square meters total floor area and features one grand ballroom, two small ballrooms, display/exhibition area and VIP area. Escalators will be installed in both structures.

In his message during the groundbreaking ceremony, Gov. Nava said that the construction of this landmark infrastructure project is part of the preparations of the Provincial Government to position Guimaras as one destination for conventions, seminars, and large-scale events and gatherings.

“Ang pagserbe sang sini nga pasilidades, indi lang para sa Guimarasnon. Ang i-serbisyo sini, i-include kag paminsaron naton nga this would cater to the needs not only of Guimarasnon but everybody, including those outside Guimaras. So, ma-position naton ang aton nga probinsiya as one destination man for convention, seminars, or whatever man nga gathering or meeting,” he explained.

The project is expected to increase opportunities for the province particularly for the local tourism industry. The governor described the project as a “multi-year project”.

“We are contemplating that we can finish this in a three-year time. We hope nga opportunities would increase kag we will position ourselves as a potential logistic area para cater naton ang duha ka region subong kay teh may Negros Island Region and Western Visayas region.

With Guimaras at the center and connecting the two big islands, I think we have a good possibility to be a logistic hub of these areas eventually. It will follow. Kun we’re building facility and we accommodate events nga amo sina, I think ang hospitality business will follow. May mga groups man nga nag-manifest sang intentions nila to build sang hospitality facility man and other business diri sa probinsiya. So, I think ma-snowball gid na eventually kung ara na ang demand.”

USWAG partylist Congressman James “Jojo” Ang went on a trip down memory lane in sharing how the ambitious project was born: “Damgo-damgo man lang tu sang una, lango-lango lang tu namon ni Manong Rahman dira sa tuktukon nga gym, sa babaw sang stage. Nagatangla-tangla kami didto kay sige wakal si Manang Lucille didto that time, sige kami ni Manong Rahman… Sang gahambal si Manang Lucille, naga-speech, wala ako nagapamati. Ang akon mata gatiyog, gatiyog, gatiyog lang ya. Kada tiyog wala ko sang angle nga ma-spot nga wala sang tuktok nga makita. Puros tuktok gid ni tanan ya. Hambalan ko si Manong Rahman… Siya that time nagaplano gid man siya nga mapatahum kuntani. Naghambal siya nga mayo gid man kun mapaubra siya naton. Hambal ko sa iya tinguhaan naton, manami gid man siya kun ipa-ubra naton so, sang nagkitaay kami ni Manang Lucille sa Kongreso, hambal naton dayunon ta tu? Hambal mo sige, buligay kita duha.” Congressman Ang said that the structure to be built will be a game changer for Guimaras because it will result in further development for the province.

“Sigurado gid ako nga ang ini nga convention center, isa ini ka game changer sa probinsiya sang Guimaras. Sa ulihi ining convention center kag arena nga ini indi lang ini siya mapuslan sang pumuluyo naton sa Guimaras kungdi mangin destination na ini siya for convention ang probinsiya sang Guimaras,” he added.

The USWAG Ilonggo representative along with Cong. Nava and Gov. Nava were instrumental in raising sufficient funds to begin the first phase of the construction. During the groundbreaking event, Cong. Ang pledged an additional Php 250 million for the project and assured to help until the completion of the construction of the project.

According to Cong. Ma. Lucille L. Nava, having the Guimaras Arena and Convention Center is a step closer to the realization of the province’s vision to play a big role in the region and the country’s economic growth.

“Ginapreparar naton ang aton probinsiya, we are preparing the infrastructure for the upcoming surge of tourists kung ara na ang aton nga bridge. So, kung nakita ninyo ang tanan nga inisyatibo sang aton probinsiya, sang aton pinalangga nga gobernador, amat-amat nagtilindog diri mismo sa Jordan kag indi lamang diri sa Jordan pero sa iban naton nga mga banwa kun diin naton makita ang mga tourist destinations.

Gintinguhaan naton nga malab-ot ang mga dalanon pakadto sa tourism areas, ang mga dalanon pakadto sa industrial areas, naamat-amatan naton tungod gina-antisipar naton that Guimaras would be part of the tourism circuit of Region 6. It has been the vision nga mangin part kita… daku kita nga part sang ekonomiya indi lang sang probinsiya, sang whole region, but the whole country. And with this infrastructure at hand, ginapasalamatan ko gid si Congressman Jojo,” she said.

DPWH Region 6 Director Sanny Boy Oropel said that “the groundbreaking stands as a testament to our government’s unwavering commitment of building better infrastructure projects. It is also the result of collaborative efforts and a manifestation of strong partnership between the local government of Guimaras province and the Department of Public Works and Highways. Together, we are constructing not just a landmark structure but a legacy that will benefit generations to come. Rest assured that DPWH Region 6 will continue to drive infrastructure development which is essential not only for the local tourism in the Province of Guimaras but more importantly for the betterment of the lives of the people of Guimaras”.

“On our end in the Department of Public Works and Highways, we are glad to be contributors as the implementing agency of what is envisioned to be a landmark facility for the province of Guimaras, a world class Guimaras Convention Center. Today is not just about starting the construction. It is about envisioning the future and laying the foundation of the project that symbolizes our commitment to progress and shared dedication sa pag-uswag sang probinsiya sang Guimaras,” added DPWH – Guimaras District Engineer Randolfo Melosantos.

The agency collaborated with the Provincial Government of Guimaras for the architectural design of the Guimaras Arena and Convention Center.

Gov. Nava is banking on the support and cooperation of the Provincial Government’s partners for the success of the project for a better future of Guimarasnons.

“So, i-prepare gid naton ang Guimaras for the next level nga kita diri eventually ang alagyan, indi lang alagyan pero mapilitan gid sila maghapit. It will be a destination by itself with the PGN bridges. So, ang panan-awan, after sina, definitely we can be a logistics hub for the two regions diri sa Western Visayas kag sa Negros Island region. So, kabay pa sa kooperasyon sang aton mga opisyales, mga ahensiya nga nagabulig sa probinsiya naton, tam-an ka klaro ari ang DPWH hierarchy sang region nga nagabulig and of course ari ang mga kapitanes naton nga nagasuporta sa tanan nga programa kag dugangan sang mga ayuda sang USWAG, ayuda ni Cong. Lucille, ayuda ni Speaker Martin Romualdez, ayuda ni President Bongbong Marcos Jr., ginalauman naton ang padayon nga pag-asenso sang aton nga probinsiya. So, ini tanan masiling ko dugang nga tikang padulong sa masanag nga palaabuton,” the governor said.