The local government unit of San Jose de Buenavista is positioning itself to be the center for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) in the province.

San Jose de Buenavista Mayor Elmer Untaran said in an interview Tuesday that their newly built 2-story Antique Tourism Trade and Investment Forum (ATRIUM) building is now receiving bookings for various events since its soft opening in December 2022.

“We have two function rooms that are now operational,” Untaran said.

The bigger function room can accommodate 350 persons while the other room can hold 120 guests.

He said six hotel rooms are already completed but not yet furnished.

Darcy Bungay, Municipal Economic Enterprise and Development Officer (MEEDO), said the local government eyeing to open the hotel rooms by the second semester this year.

“We will be launching our marketing materials also within this March,” he added.

There are LGU Tourism information officers assigned at the ATRIUM to receive bookings for events.

Bungay said Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda allocated PHP50 million for the construction of the ATRIUM at the San Jose de Buenavista Tradetown in 2019.

A portion of the ground floor of the ATRIUM is a modern bus and jeepney terminal with clean comfort rooms.

The facility which has been in operation since December last year was intended to provide easy access to MICE participants and tourists who come to Antique’s capital town. (PNA)