Friday, October 20, 2006 Guanzon says yes to Sonny on bet
ARCHITECT Manuel Guanzon said he has no authority to approve former senator John “Sonny” Osmeña’s conditions on the bet they made on the completion of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) by Nov. 15, citing security measures adopted by the Asean organizing committee.
Guanzon also said he mentioned the P1.5-million bet as a joke but since it was picked up by media, he will push through with it.
“It was done in jest… Pero sige, sige kay naa naman gyud na, padayu-non nato kay gipamulong naman nato (But since it’s out there, I’ll do it),” he said in an interview over radio dyLA yesterday.
However, Guanzon said that he could not give in to Osmeña’s request for copies of the detailed engineering and other documents related to the CICC because of security.
Even he cannot make any decisions for the CICC without the approval of the Presidential Security Group and the national organizing committee for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit headed by Ambassador Marciano Paynor, said Guanzon.
Osmeña, whose letter has yet to reach Guanzon, had asked that he be furnished a copy of the detailed engineering plan and scope of work, including foundation plan, building plan and electrical, mechanical and plumbing works, “among others.”
He also wants a copy of the program of work and estimates, the bill of materials and vouchers for materials delivered and the contracts with various contractors, sub-contractors and consultants.
But Guanzon said these documents may be released only after this December’s Asean summit, where heads of state from Asia and even Europe will gather.
“I’m sorry, but anything related to the convention center cannot be known at this point in time. Ug mahimo pa lang, akong ihatag niya. I don’t have that kind of authority,” said Guanzon.
The former senator’s condition that he and his representatives be given access to the CICC construction site 24-hours a day is also worse than asking for the building plan, added the architect.
Capitol consultant Pablo John Garcia, meanwhile, has another bet to make for Osmeña.
“You see, he has to establish his questioned credibility. He said the structural steel used in the CICC was taken from the SRP (South Road Properties). So I’ll pay P15,000 if he could point to a particular part that comes from SRP and I’ll pay P15,000 more if he can climb the entire staircase of the CICC.
Pasensya lang, P30,000 ra tanan. Waman koy kwarta pareha niya,” he said.
The CICC has a total of 73 steps, with 29 each on the first and second floor.
Guanzon said he will agree to Osmeña’s proposed panel to judge the completion of the CICC as long as its members will be people who have experience in constructing convention centers. (JPM)
