Election ban stalls projects worth P92M
THE bidding of at least P92 million worth of projects was suspended by the Cebu City Government due to the ban on the implementation of infrastructure projects during the campaign period.
Assistant City Engineer Nilo Igot said most of the projects are repair and improvement of roads and construction of drainage systems.
Records of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) showed that among the projects that are up for bidding is the construction of Portland cement concrete pavement with drainage system in Barangay Sto. Niño amounting to P10 million.
The asphalting of Logarta, P. Burgos, Urdaneta and Jereza Streets in Barangay San Roque worth P4.5 million is also on hold.
Other projects affected by the ban are the concreting of roads in Barangay Taptap, particularly the portion from Sitio Tupas to the old school building, and from Sitio Proper to Sto. Niño 2 worth P2.8 million; the concreting of Visitacion St. in Barangay Sambag 2 with drainage worth P1.9 million; and the concreting of roads with drainage system in Sitio Sapda in Barangay Sambag 2 worth close to P1 million.
“We know that the barangays need the projects but as much as we want to implement them, we have to temporarily stop the bidding because of the ban. With the volume of projects we have, we couldn’t finish all the bidding before the ban took effect,” he said.
At present, Igot said more than 30 projects funded under the City’s annual budget are being implemented.
The biggest among the projects being implemented is the Phase 2 of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), which costs P300 million.
Igot said the contract for Phase 2 was signed and awarded to C.E Padilla Construction Inc., the same contractor that worked on Phase 1 of the project.
Igot said Phase 2 will be completed in 150 days, but they have asked the contractor to fast-track the work by deploying more workers.
“Mayor Osmeña really wants CCMC to be done and operational because it is for those who really need medical attention but can’t afford to pay the private hospitals,” he said.
To make sure that the project is in compliance with the standards, Igot said they are closely monitoring the project.
Phase 2 covers all the utilities, including plumbing, electrical, fire protection, mechanical, communication and the structural finishes.
Once it’s completed, the City plans to start using the first three floors of the building.
They will be used for the emergency room and out-patient department, among other operations.
Phase 1 of the project, which covers all structural work, is already 99 percent complete, according to Igot.