|
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Legislative building cost P55M more
By Linette C. Ramos
CEBU CITY -- 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 Wednesday'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.
Post your comments here on the Makati siege
The City has so far spent P120,349,948 for the renovation that took almost two years to complete.
"This cost the taxpayers lot of money and therefore we ask ourselves: how are we going to repay the taxpayers?" Osmeña told councilors, department heads and other city officials who attended the ceremonial session Wednesday.
He said he was reluctant to proceed with the renovation because of the amount involved, which he said might lead people into thinking that City Hall is the entire Cebu City.
Private help
But with help from the National Government, the private sector and the councilors themselves, the building was completed with a bigger floor area. It also has a state-of-the-art district cooling system, a new digital congress sound system for the session hall, two new elevators, and export-quality furniture.
"I was reluctant about the building renovation because the people might think City Hall is Cebu City, but it's not. There are 30,000 hectares of land and we don't have the means to attend to the needs of all sectors, that's why we had to harness allies and friends from the private sector," the mayor said.
Councilor Nestor Archival, who was assigned to oversee the project, said the renovation cost reached P120 million because of several variations and extra works. The waste-to-energy district cooling system, which costs P18 million, was also not included in the original contract and budget.
Archival said the original contract, amounting to P65.4 million, covered only the structural works and basic electrical and plumbing works.
The second phase, which included tiles and other fixtures, amounted to P13.2 million. The third phase, amounting to P18.5 million, included variation orders and additional electrical and plumbing works.
Landmark
"The original contract was only for the structural work. When the mayor saw the design, he suggested removing the mezzanine of the original building to maximize space. There were several variation orders that resulted in a bigger floor area. That contributed to the increase in the project cost," Archival said.
But even with the high cost of the project, Vice Mayor Michael Rama said the building had to be renovated "to restore the grandeur of City Hall, the city's main landmark."
"The need to renovate is not a luxury but a rightful attempt to restore the dignity in the office of men and women whom the people of Cebu elected into office," Rama said in his speech.
When before the legislative building had dark alleys, lacked space, and was infested with rodents, the building is now spacious and well lit. The councilors' offices are also bigger and are now equipped with their own bathrooms.
The session hall is three times the size of the old session hall, and features Kenneth Cobonpue furniture pieces.
Despite the huge expense, Osmeña said Cebu still has other things to be grateful for, especially after it was spared from major calamities, instability and political turmoil in Manila.
Taking risks
He said Cebu City benefited from the strengthening of the peso, which resulted in the reduction of the City's debts for the South Road Properties (SRP).
He urged officials and his constituents to look forward to a brighter year ahead because the City is expected to start making money from the 290-hectare facility.
Osmeña said Cebu City should continue to move on to face new challenges and not be left behind.
"Cebu has progressed because we have taken risks and we moved ahead. We have taken a risk by incurring a huge debt and taking a risk with the SRP. Now we will enjoy the fruits of that risk and we will be the envy of the rest of the country by next year," he said.
The mayor also urged Cebuanos to continue to be self-reliant and not to be affected by whatever political turmoil happens in Manila.
"Here in Cebu City, we have to learn to retrench and focus on ourselves. We suffered hostility not only from outside Cebu but with a neighbor. But with self-reliance, we will learn how to survive and prosper," Osmeña said. (Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (December 20, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Arroyo pardons 64 aging convicts