UPOU signals start of the construction of its international convention center in groundbreaking rites.Part of UPOU's 21st Anniversary celebration is the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the UPOU International Convention Center (UPOU ICC), which was held on 29 February 2016.
UP President Alfredo Pascual and Chancellor Grace Javier Alfonso gave their messages. President Pascual highlighted the importance of ICC as a means to serve the community while Chancellor Alfonso emphasized how grateful UPOU is to all the people who were part of the planning, design and construction of the International Convention Center. She looks forward to seeing the building serve not just the immediate community but also the ASEAN region and the world.
With the assistance of UPOU Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Administration Dr. Jean Saludadez, President Pascual and Chancellor Alfonso ceremoniously sealed and buried a time capsule filled with the day's newspaper, several UPOU memorabilia, the building's blueprint, and business cards of the President and the Chancellor. Assisting in the ceremony were Hon. Alexis Mejia, UP Staff Regent; Dr. Melinda Bandalaria, incoming UPOU Chancellor; Dr. Gisela Concepcion, UP Vice-President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Melinda Lumanta, UPOU Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Engr. Cenen Miranda, UPOU Consultant on Infrastructure; and Arch. Mariano Arce, Jr., Managing Officer of the Arce-Bailon-Arce Architects.
The UPOU International Convention Center "is envisioned to serve as the primary venue for international and national conferences on open and distance e-learning using state-of-the-art telecommunications and multi-media facilities." It will cover a lot area of approximately 29,500 square meters and a building area of 4,500 square meters, and will house, among others, a 700-seater convention hall, 25 executive rooms, and breakout meeting rooms of different sizes. The parking space will be able to accommodate 86 vehicles.
The UPOU ICC was given a budget of Php 140 million and is expected to be completed by 2017. (Anna Cañas-Llamas)
