Friday, June 29, 2007 ‘I was vindicated, not Saavedra’ By Jeanette P. Malinao Sun.Star Staff Reporter With Katrina N. Tabanao
THE P793-million worst-case scenario reported by Capitol officials for the CICC does not include yet the P49-million billing for on-site development, but Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. said the total amount does not surprise him at all.
Being a “technical man” and a civil engineer for 35 years now, Sanchez said he “knew all along” that the final computation for the cost will range from P800 million to P900 million.
His projections were published when the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) was still being constructed and discussed by the Provincial Board (PB) in its session last November, he pointed out.
Provincial Planning and Development Officer Adolfo Quiroga, who prepared the presentation on the CICC, wanted to compute the cost for the building itself, so he added to the P581 million only the P211-million final bill for electrical and plumbing works, and civil and structural works.
He set aside from the computation the P49.3 million for site development that was included in the final billing, although this item was still included in the presentation that he prepared.
“Let’s put things in perspective here. It’s not (businessman Crisologo) Saavedra who is vindicated. If anyone is vindicated, it’s me because I’ve been saying all along that from my experience as contractor, that structure would cost at least P800 million,” said Sanchez.
“That was my figure then, and the governor said that she will cut down on cost,” he added.
Good guess
Years of experience made him aware of how much it would cost in the end, Sanchez said, but he also explained that the Capitol could not be sure from the start because of time constraints in the Asean preparations, which made them work on specific plans done piecemeal.
The normal timeframe to finish architectural, structural, electrical and mechanical detailed plans for projects of such magnitude would be eight months to one year, added Sanchez.
This was time the Capitol did not have because President Arroyo announced Cebu as the summit venue only in February last year, only 10 months ahead of the original schedule.
“We could not wait for everything to be finished, so we bidded out in tranches whatever was completed,” Sanchez said.
He said the PB would have to pass a supplemental budget if they find that the WT billing is valid because it would not look good for the Province not to pay its obligations.
Earning
PB budget committee chairman Victor Maambong also said earlier that this is allowed, and they are just waiting for the engineers to finish verification of the claimed items of work.
Sanchez added that he can explain to the PB and the Cebuanos “why we need this.”
But he said he would like to assure the Cebuanos that the CICC is not overpriced, and that its existence is part of a “long-term” economic plan for Cebu that would entail spending for infrastructure.
“At least it’s earning,” he said.
There’s no need for an outcry about the amount as the CICC will “fast track” the economic growth of Cebu and will serve as the needed “stepping stone” for “miracle growth,” the vice governor also assured.
With the CICC and other major projects that the Capitol has lined up for the new term, Sanchez predicts an economic boom for Cebu in the next six years.
Not paid yet
Department heads also stressed yesterday that the Capitol has not yet released money for the WT final billing statement, which is still being verified.
Saavedra has said the best way for Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to prove that there was no payment made yet is to show papers, but Capitol information consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda said it is Saavedra who must show documents because it is he who is alleging payment.
“If nabayran na, dili na kwarta sa Province so salamat, basin si Saavedra ang nibayad (If any payment has been made, it can’t have been from the Province. Perhaps we should thank Saavedra, maybe he paid for it himself),” said Sepulveda.
Saavedra has accused Garcia and Capitol department heads of plunder, among other things, because of the CICC transactions. He said yesterday that the credibility of the governor right now is “below zero.” (JPM/With KNT)
