Solon files bill to name Cagayan convention center after late Sen. Nene Pimentel
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is proposing to rename the P349-million Cagayan de Oro Convention Center to Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center.
Former Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel (Juan Carlo de Vela / MANILA BULLETIN)
The chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments filed House Bill (HB) No. 5703 to name the Convention Center after Pimentel, whom he described as "one of the most distinguished sons of Cagayan de Oro City."
According to the House leader, Pimentel helped secure funds for the center’s construction in Taguanao, Barangay Indahag, in Cagayan de Oro City.
"Senator Nene Pimentel was a great statesman of our country, a true Mindanaonon and a native son of Cagayan de Oro City," he said. "It is for these reasons that the yet to be completed Cagayan de Oro Convention Center should be renamed as the Aquilino Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center."
Rodriguez said Pimentel, the founder of political party PDP-Laban, is one of the pillars of the democracy of the Philippines and the father of the Local Government Code.
"He was a staunch critic of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and will be remembered as a freedom fighter who resisted martial law, resulting in his being imprisoned several times for his unwavering belief in democracy," he said.
According to Rodriguez, in 1984, Pimentel won a seat as assemblyman for Cagayan de Oro in the Batasang Pambansa. After three years, he was elected senator, and again in 1998 and in 2004. Pimentel was the first Mindanaonon to become Senate president in 2000.
Pimentel died last Oct. 20 at the age of 85.
Rodriguez said the Cagayan de Oro International Convention Center was first conceptualized in 1998, and the construction of the building with a seating capacity of 7,700 started in 2003.
"The key infrastructure is essential to our serious commitment to make Cagayan de Oro City remain in the top most competitive cities in the Philippines and towards becoming the tourism convention capital in the Mindanao region," he said.
Former Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel (Juan Carlo de Vela / MANILA BULLETIN)
The chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments filed House Bill (HB) No. 5703 to name the Convention Center after Pimentel, whom he described as "one of the most distinguished sons of Cagayan de Oro City."
According to the House leader, Pimentel helped secure funds for the center’s construction in Taguanao, Barangay Indahag, in Cagayan de Oro City.
"Senator Nene Pimentel was a great statesman of our country, a true Mindanaonon and a native son of Cagayan de Oro City," he said. "It is for these reasons that the yet to be completed Cagayan de Oro Convention Center should be renamed as the Aquilino Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center."
Rodriguez said Pimentel, the founder of political party PDP-Laban, is one of the pillars of the democracy of the Philippines and the father of the Local Government Code.
"He was a staunch critic of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and will be remembered as a freedom fighter who resisted martial law, resulting in his being imprisoned several times for his unwavering belief in democracy," he said.
According to Rodriguez, in 1984, Pimentel won a seat as assemblyman for Cagayan de Oro in the Batasang Pambansa. After three years, he was elected senator, and again in 1998 and in 2004. Pimentel was the first Mindanaonon to become Senate president in 2000.
Pimentel died last Oct. 20 at the age of 85.
Rodriguez said the Cagayan de Oro International Convention Center was first conceptualized in 1998, and the construction of the building with a seating capacity of 7,700 started in 2003.
"The key infrastructure is essential to our serious commitment to make Cagayan de Oro City remain in the top most competitive cities in the Philippines and towards becoming the tourism convention capital in the Mindanao region," he said.