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Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Sienes: Why only now?
By Cris G. Sienes
Different Strokes
A SUBCONTRACTOR, a foreman and a steel man who were involved in the construction of the controversial Artica Sports Dome and Convention Center publicly revealed recently that the unfinished structure is unsafe because its foundations are weak. They attribute the weak foundations to the alleged bending of steel bars during this construction.
However, a spokesman of the contractor, Archipelago Builders Construction, strongly denied the accusations of three men. He said that his construction firm is a reputable and prestigious one and would never risk its reputation by sloppily laying down the foundations of the proposed sports dome and convention center.
Nobody likes to be cheated. Especially not Davao City taxpayers whose taxes are being used to pay for the multi-million loan used to fund the construction of the controversial edifice. They certainly would not accept a defective and unsafe sports dome in exchange for their taxes. That is if the allegations of the three men above are true.
In the light of the allegations of the subcontractor, foreman and steel man and the denial of the spokesman of the contractor that the foundations of the controversial sports dome are weak, a third side must be looked into - the truth.
The only way to ferret out the truth is to look into the foundations of the unfinished structure and determine if they are really weak or not. For this the services of a really good and known structural engineer must be tapped. If it is found out that the foundations are really weak, the contractor must be compelled to correct the defects at its own expense. That is if it is decided that the unfinished structure must be completed.
If, however, the foundations are well laid and not weak, the contractor will have been vindicated. Perhaps it can seek legal remedy against the three men for their allegations against it.
A word or two about the accusations of the subcontractor, foreman and steel man. Why did it take them only recently to publicly reveal the alleged irregularity and only after the word war between Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and former mayor Benjamin de Guzman resumed? The timing makes their move suspect.
If they knew all along that the foundations of the proposed sports dome and convention center were weak because steel bars were allegedly bent in constructing them, they should have denounced the alleged irregularity publicly right then and there to correct the defects and ensure the safety of Dabawenyos.
Why only now? What if the proposed sports dome and convention center had been completed? The lives of Dabawenyos would have been greatly endangered.
***
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's refusal to sign the endorsement for the closure of the PLDT in Davao City was a sound logical move.
Duterte put his foot down on the endorsement because the closure of the PLDT would have had adverse effects upon so many business establishments in the city.
Duterte was right and deserves to be commended for his quick and sound decision.
Imagine so many business establishments in the city deprived of their PLDT telephone lines and therefore of their many business contacts both in and outside the city. Business in general would have been adversely affected to the detriment of the city.
Whoever drafted the endorsement for the closure of the PLDT should have had the foresight to anticipate the effects of such a more upon business in the city.
City authorities, as Duterte suggested, should dialogue with the big bosses of the PLDT to thresh out the problem. If the PLDT needs more time to be able to settle its financial obligation to the city, this should be given due consideration.
Closing the PLDT should be a last recourse and only if the PLDT refuses to settle its financial obligation to the city. In which case business establishments in the city should be given ample time to install new telephone lines so that their business operations would not be hampered.
But we're more than confident that the PLDT will settle its financial obligation to the city rather than be run out of business.
Point to ponder: "An evil at birth is easily crushed; but it grows and strengthens by endurance." (Cicero)
(October 7, 2003 issue)
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