Capitol soon to pay project contractors

Contractors of various infrastructure projects of the previous administration of the Provincial Government of Cebu now have the assurance of being paid.

Gov. Hilario Davide III yesterday met 32 project contractors who undertook projects of then governor and now third district Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia but are yet paid.

Acting provincial engineer Hector Jamora said that the total projects have accumulated the amount of more than P600 million since 2006.

WTG Construction has the biggest collectibles of more than P100 million, said Jamora.

“At least they know nga bayran sila,” Jamora said.

Davide has asked the contractors to help the provincial government and proposed to pay the payables in staggered basis.

“They agreed in principle pero duna mi pamaagi nga i- classify una nato ang projects nga humana, projects nga ongoing, para matan- aw pila gyud ang actual bayranan sa Kapitolyo,” Davide said.

While Davide acknowledges the Capitol’s obligations to contractors, he is also disturbed by the fact that the contracts were not passed through the Provincial Board.

Davide said that they should follow the requirements set by the Commission on Audit of which among them is the PB action.

“Whether the Provincial Board will ratify those contracts, depende ra na nila,” he said.

Davide asked Jamora to coordinate with the representatives of the contractors to find out which projects were already completed and to be paid first.

“I also requested them nga katong mga unfinished ug mga suspended ipadayun lang aron mahuman especially provincial hospitals para magamit dayun,” Davide added.

Not among the projects included is the controversial Balili property development which has pending cases in court. —