Capitol eyes supplying cement to contractors

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is eyeing a possible collaboration with private suppliers as Capitol ramps up spending for various infrastructure projects.

The Capitol is allocating over 50-percent of its annual budget this year for important public infrastructures such as roads and bridges.

Garcia said that transacting directly with cement manufacturers for Capitol’s cement needs would help save in terms of spending for cement procurement.

Garcia met with the executives of four Cebubased cement manufacturers the other day to discuss her plan.

Among those who attended the meeting were Belgium Consul Enrison Benedicto, CEO of Mabuhay Filcement Inc. based in San Fernando; Atty. Christer Gaudiano, director of Cemex Holdings Philippines, operator of Apo Cement in the City of Naga; Tsutomo Hirobe, vice president for operations of Taiheiyo Cement based in San Fernando; and Cathy Chua, executive vice president of Century Peak Corp. based in Pinamungajan.

The Capitol is looking at buying cement in bulk directly from the manufacturers and sell them to the contractors undertaking Capitol-funded projects.\

Garcia asked the cement companies to come up with their proposal as to the lowest price that they could give the Capitol as a bulk cement buyer. The prevailing price of cement in the market today is P230 per bag and below.

The four executives of cement manufacturers in Cebu welcomed the governor’s idea and expressed willingness to work with the Capitol since they are also mining from the province limestone, a very important ingredient of cement.