Thursday, March 06, 2008 Talk Back: NSO building By Noel N. Rafols Information Officer, NSO 7
THIS has reference to the news item (Sun.Star Cebu, Feb. 21, 2008) titled, “NSO has other plans for building” that tackled the lease deal with National Statistics Office (NSO).
The report said the Cebu Provincial Government was blamed for the failed lease deal between NSO and the Province. NSO did not blame Capitol on the failed deal.
We received a copy of the letter from the legal staff of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) dated Sept. 3, 2007 stating, among others, that some of the terms and condition in the contract were beneficial to the Province and burdensome to NSO.
In this regard, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman Ariel Florendo informed Gov. Gwen Garcia on the comments of the legal staff of Neda. The letter was received by lawyer Marino Martinquilla on Sept. 21, 2007.
In the said letter, the BAC chairman asked for renegotiation of the terms and conditions. Martinquilla, officer-in-charge of Capitol’s Legal Office, wrote lawyer Lilia B. Tandoc, NSO 7 regional director, regarding Florendo’s letter.
He informed NSO that the Economic Enterprise Council (EEC) of Cebu has turned down the NSO proposal and has insisted on the terms and condition except for clarification on the deposit of bond in the amount of P300,000: that it should only be one month. The NSO was given until the end of September 2007 to agree to the terms and condition. The letter was received by NSO on Sept. 24, 2007.
Politely, Florendo informed the Provincial Government that NSO can not enter into contract within the time given by the EEC. He expressed his sincere thanks that NSO was given the opportunity to discuss with EEC.
It is not true that NSO officials in Manila wanted to use the second floor of the building as a dormitory and a canteen. It was Union of Statistics Employees (USE) president Junette Cabrera who inquired if USE can operate a canteen on the vacant area (not in the second floor) to serve the employee and the applicants inside the compound.
It is not true also that NSO intends to use the property, particularly the second floor, as a living quarter. It was the USE that inquired if some employees coming from the field offices can stay during the trainings, conferences and seminars (this does not usually exceed 6 or 7 employees) without cost to them.
In fact, the canteen and the dormitory were not included in the draft contract sent to Manila for evaluation.
