ASK Crisologo Saavedra how he’s feeling today, and he’ll probably tell you: “I am vindicated.”
The businessman pointed out that Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has admitted, albeit with justification, that the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) cost higher than what she’d earlier declared in a presentation at the Capitol last May.
“The figures in her (May) presentation were much lower than the actual amount spent,” he said in an interview yesterday.
He recalled how the governor had previously accused him of giving “a wrong interpretation” and of “misreading” some construction-related documents he obtained when he first spoke about the CICC’s costs.
As its “worst-case scenario” for the project, the Capitol has admitted that the CICC’s expenses could hit P793 million. (See related story, A1)
Garcia, during her presentation last May, denied any anomalies in the CICC project and said the constriction cost the Provincial Government P581.27 million.
Capitol officials also raised yesterday a “challenge to whistleblowers and detractors” to take a closer look and demand accounting for other multi-million projects of other government agencies, so “allusions of corruption will not be limited to a particular sector.”
This will also “erase speculations,” said lawyer Rory Jon Sepulveda, that the whistleblower “who is from Cebu City chose to be silent on the South Road Properties’ (SRP) ballooning debt, despite its interest costing P1 million a day.”
“I hope they can properly explain that, as we endeavor to properly explain for the CICC,” said Sepulveda.
After the governor’s report last May, Saavedra revealed that there was an “additional” P261-million bill that WT Construction charged for certain services.
The expenditure, carried in the Feb. 21 billing, represented two components: P85,265,407 for electrical and plumbing works, and P175,951,478 for site development and structural, civil and agricultural works.
Garcia, in a media forum last Tuesday, said the cost of building the CICC could hit P793.19 million but that there was an “ongoing verification of billings submitted to the Capitol for payment.”
The updated amount is P211.19 million higher than the previous quote, P50 million less than the WT bill as of Feb. 21 and surpassed the P600-million budget granted by the Provincial Board.
She attributed the variance to “various works” submitted by WT Construction but added she never said her May figures were final.
“She is maliciously hiding the facts,” Saavedra countered yesterday.
He maintained that Garcia’s May figures were computed after the CICC was declared complete and therefore already covered all the components in the terms of reference.
He said the only obvious explanation is that some items in the terms of reference cost the government more than they should have.
Quoting “an insider” he did not name, Saavedra said the Capitol has already paid the P261-million bill that WT sent. He accused the governor of trying to hide her tracks.
But since their “detractors” insinuate that there was corruption, they must as well take a closer look at “everything,” Saavedra said in a separate interview.
“Makita nga tarong ug limpyo ang CICC. We are confident that it’s aboveboard. So we challenge the graft-busters and whistleblowers, who want to scrutinize every knot, bolt and washer, to be fair. They should ask for an accounting of other government expenses costing much more than the CICC; they must be scrutinized in the same manner. Fair is fair,” said Sepulveda, Capitol consultant on information.
He cited that Garcia has made an accounting before the public despite the fact that the project will still be examined by the Commission on Audit.
Garcia said that amid criticisms, various groups have requested for CICC bookings, giving the CICC income. (KNR/JPM)
