Wednesday, June 18, 2008 Arroyo to stay in multi-million guesthouse
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on her visit Thursday will stay not in any of Davao City's premier hotels, but at the multi-million guesthouse with a beach front at the depot of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Southern Mindanao.
Reports reaching Sun.Star showed that the guesthouse was built at a cost of P24 million, while the house that will be used by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) costs about P15 million. The report also said that the guesthouse will be transformed into a version of the Malacañang Palace in Mindanao.
The guesthouse is a two-storey structure with Spanish-inspired architecture. It has a grand crystal chandelier in the middle.
However, according to a source inside the DPWH, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the two multi-million-peso buildings have been transferred to the Office of the President.
"Sa Malacañang na yun, hindi na sa DPWH," the source said.
Construction of the two structures started in the first quarter of 2007. The main structure, which will house the President, has been reportedly undergoing a massive fixture replacement to suit the taste of Arroyo, including a bath tub that had to be replaced three times.
The second structure, which will be used as quarters by the PSG, consists of a mess hall, kitchen and one room on the ground floor and two small rooms for the officers and a common room on the second floor.
The source added that the P24 million cost of the guesthouse is the one that is stated in the contract price.
"Imagine na pila-pila ang mga tao sa NFA pero may tinatayo tayo na ganito kaluho na building (Imagine the number of people who queue up at NFA outlets for their rice subsidies and yet we can afford to construct a structure just for the caprice of some)," the source said.
The source added that the contractor behind the construction of the two structures is close to President Arroyo and is responsible for a number of projects in and around Mindanao.
On Tuesday morning, a top official of the DPWH reportedly ordered all the office personnel not to comment or release any information involving the P24-million mansion.
It was also learned that an additional P7 million was used in the refurbishing of the Spanish-inspired mansion by the sea.
Efforts to reach DPWH-Southern Mindanao director Jerome dela Rosa proved futile, as the director was busy shifting from one meeting to the next in preparation for the President's arrival on Thursday. (CPM)
