Gwen questions P1.2B Capitol project
Cebu Third District Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia has questioned the Capitol's alleged insistence on constructing the proposed P1.2billion, 20-story resource building despite the red flags raised by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
“Nganong pugson “Why the hurry? man gyud despite NHCP's And what has happened reservations? Tungod ba kay to the Commission's hapit na ang eleksyon? (Why recommendations on the insist despite the reservations? design? It is a P1.2-billion Is it because the elections are project that is potentially fast-approaching?),” Garcia in violation of the laws on said in a statement. heritage preservation within a declared heritage site,” she added.
Garcia's remarks came after the Bids and Awards Committee last week gave the green light for WT Construction to go on with the construction after passing the post-qualification process. Once the papers are all set, the contractor may start demolishing the BAEX building and begin the works on the new resource building.
To note, the Capitol was declared a National Historical Landmark in 2008 while Garcia was still governor.
Commenting on the original design of the resource center the provincial government submitted to the NHCP last year, the commission recommended that any new development within the compound “be arranged symmetrically on both sides of the old Provincial Capitol Building.”
The NHCP had specifically asked a new development plan from the Capitol.
NHCP chairman Rene Escalante earlier wrote to provincial administrator Mark Tolentino reminding the latter that the Cebu provincial government is yet to send the heritage agency a new development plan.
“Up to now, we have not received the new development plan that we requested . While we did not set a deadline for such submission, we would appreciate a reply to our letter, based on Section 5 of RA No 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), which sets a period of fifteen working days to respond to letters, with the reply required to contain the action taken on the request,” Escalante wrote in a letter dated November 19.
“We are making this reminder in light of a report that the Provincial Government has proceeded with the public bidding for the project. May we therefore have an update on our request as well as on the project,” Escalante continued.
But according to Tolentino yesterday, there is no need for the Capitol to present a new development plan as agreed in an earlier meeting with the NHCP.