Pasay city: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the importance of building durable and culturally significant national infrastructure, using the recently refurbished Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) as a benchmark. In his latest vlog, released Wednesday evening, Marcos highlighted the PICC’s nearly five-decade existence as an example of infrastructure that stands the test of time.
According to Philippines News Agency, the President remarked that the PICC’s renovation is more than a mere venue upgrade for the upcoming 2026 ASEAN Summit. He stressed that it serves as evidence of the benefits of infrastructure built with foresight and purpose. Marcos noted that infrastructure should be strong, enduring, and tied to the nation’s cultural identity, rather than serving individual interests.
The administration is currently investigating allegations of corruption in multi-billion-peso infrastructure programs, including issues like kickbacks and ghost projects in flood control initiatives. Marcos pointed out that the original PICC, designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin and inaugurated in 1976, was intended to represent a modern nation and economy. Its revitalization symbolizes the Philippines’ readiness to showcase itself on the global stage.
Marcos emphasized the role of culture in defining national identity and needs. He noted that as the country prepares to host world leaders, renovated infrastructure like the PICC should mirror both functionality and national character. The six-month refurbishment of the PICC included structural repairs and modernization, restoring long-neglected interiors and art pieces within the complex.
The President officially reopened the PICC on September 30, recognizing it as a symbol of Filipino resilience and creativity. The PICC, Asia’s first international convention center, has hosted numerous historic events, both global and local. Its development was originally led by the President’s mother, then First Lady Imelda Marcos, and its recent renovation was personally overseen by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
