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Thursday, October 09, 2003
City starts probe on 'unsafe' sports dome
By Aurea A. Gerundio
DAVAO -- Members of the Task Force Artica Sports Dome convened Wednesday to plan their investigation into the alleged "unsafe" construction of the unfinished sports dome in Davao City.
The body has to speed up its investigation as it was only given 60 days by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte to submit findings and recommendations.
It was not able to do any investigation Wednesday because of the absence of the persons directly or indirectly involved in the work on the project.
"I would not recommend that we proceed formally with the investigation until all personalities needed are present. We have to lay the mechanics first on how we should proceed with the task given to us by Mayor Duterte," City Administrator Melchor Quitain, Task Force Artica Sports Dome chair, said during the meeting. The group was formed on September 29.
Quitain said former city mayor Benjamin C. de Guzman has yet to be furnished an invitation to appear before the group investigating the Artica Sports Dome construction.
"De Guzman is entitled to an invitation," Quitain added.
During the meeting, City Engineers Office (CEO) chief Meinrado Metran suggested the formation of a sub-committee for the specification of assignments, saying the city has allocated P105,000 for the paper works and honoraria of the Task Force members.
Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (Pice) president Joselito Pedro requested Quitain to furnish them copies of the latest affidavit of those who revealed the alleged structural defects of the sports dome.
"We will study first the documents and structural plans," Pedro said.
John Paul Pe, owner of dome contractor Archipelago Builders, echoed a similar opinion, saying they also want the allegations hurled against them cleared.
"For the past weeks, we had been receiving negative write ups and we wanted to clear it up. Most of the allegations were on the technical matters but nothing major so far. I personally came here to show support to the mayor's request for an investigation of the dome construction. We have been in the business since 1965 and we would not gamble our reputation," Pe said.
Quitain expects the presence of other Task Force members including
Councilor Wilberto Al-ag, who chairs the City Council committee on public works and highways, representatives from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Civil Society and de Guzman during the next meeting scheduled on October 22.
"We will go on with the investigation without favoring anybody. I am beholding to no one except my conscience. I also want the Task Force to instill the saying that 'I have no friends to serve and I have no enemies to harm'," Quitain said. Sun.Star Davao
(October 9, 2003 issue)
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