Thursday, December 20, 2007 (Philippines)

That’s how Cebu City Vice Mayor Mike Rama calls the renovated legislative building. Mayor Tomas Osmeña views it differently. He worries about the P55 million “overprice” and how they will repay taxpayers. Above: the City Council holding its first session in the building that cost P120,349,348 to renovate. Left: facade of the building.(Sun.star photo/Allan Defensor) WITH the renovation costing almost double the proposed amount, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña reminded councilors they will need to repay taxpayers for the P120-million legislative building. During yesterday’s inauguration of the newly-renovated building, Osmeña said the project cost a lot of money, about 85 percent more than the original contract price of P65 million. The City has so far spent P120,349,948 for the renovation that took almost two years to complete. [full story]