Saturday, February 03, 2007 Capitol bids out P566M projects By Jeanette P. Malinao Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE Cebu Provincial Government is bidding out P566.6 million worth of infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, upgrading of district hospitals and repair of school buildings, among others.
It only has few more weeks to process the projects before the Commission on Election (Comelec) implements the ban on such undertakings because of the May 14 elections.
The ban on bidding of projects and awarding of contracts starts on March 30.
Like in previous elections, some sectors may see the move as part of the campaign for the next elections, but Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre said the projects are part of the promises Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia made when she assumed office in 2004.
In the campaign for the last local polls, accusations were made on the Capitol’s spending before the elections. A case was lodged at the anti-graft office but did not prosper.
Members of the opposition, however, have no complaints this time.
Former congressman Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr., Garcia’s fiercest rival in the last elections, told Sun.Star Cebu that it is up to the Commission on Audit (COA) to look into whatever transactions the Capitol will enter into.
“The ban starts on March 30 yet,” said Martinez.
In a separate telephone interview, Provincial Board (PB) Member Estrella Yapha, who has been vocal against some projects of the governor, said she read the published invitation to bid and saw that the items will “benefit and are needed by the people.”
“Wala pa may ban on bidding. Once these are bid out before March 30, these projects can also be implemented even during the ban period or the campaign period,” Yapha said.
“Basta makaayo lang sa katawhan, maayo nuon. It’s okay. I saw the projects like asphalting and water systems, I can say that at least they saw what is needed,” she added.
Meanwhile, Comelec reminded local and senatorial candidates that they are prohibited from giving donations or gifts in cash or in kind starting Feb. 13 when the campaign period for national positions starts.
Citing the Omnibus Election Code, Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. said the prohibition covers also a candidate’s spouse, immediate relatives and campaign manager.
Although candidates and their kin are not allowed to give donations or gifts, they are not barred from receiving campaign contributions but they are required to submit a financial report on the contributions they received 30 days after the election.
Official candidates of political parties are allowed to spend only P3 for every registered voter and P5 for senatorial candidates, political parties and party-list groups.
At the Capitol, the projects put up for bidding are part of the 2007 annual budget that the governor presented to the Provincial Board last year.
Because these are already part of an appropriations ordinance, the contracts that the Province will enter into will no longer pass through the Provincial Board, a controversy that a court ruling has resolved.
The projects that are being bid out includes P8.5 million for the putting up of private rooms with airconditioner and comfort room in 13 district hospitals.
Governor Garcia is pushing for this so those who can afford to pay and want to stay in private rooms in district hospitals will have an option, and the hospitals can also earn.
Yapha, who heads the PB committee on health, yesterday said she is also supporting this move.
Other projects in the list: asphalting of 154.5 kilometers of provincial roads worth P495 million, work on 21 bridges costing P50.8 million, repair of schoolbuildings (P3.6 million), construction of waterworks system (P5.9 million) and riprapping works in Tudela and Poro in Camotes islands worth P2.2 million.
Pelayre said the items being bid out are just a continuation of already ongoing projects that Garcia started in 2004.
The asphalting of roads, for example, already has 261 kilometers awarded in 2005 and 2006, some of which were completed while the others are still ongoing.
The work on bridges, Pelayre said, has a target of 10 bridges a year but the Capitol already worked on 46 bridges in 2005 and 2006, all worth P48 million.
Pelayre said they exceeded their targets both for the number of kilometers of road asphalting and bridge repair/construction. (With Sunnex)
