AN OFFICIAL of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) clarified that the Limketkai Sons Inc. has yet to sign the memorandum of agreement (MOA) they proposed to proceed with the construction of the drainage system in CM Recto Avenue.
DPWH Project Engineer Leowald Pecore, however, said that Limketkai already agreed verbally in their last meeting on December 28, 2018, but they have yet to put the agreement into paper.
Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr., has earlier claimed that a MOA was already signed.
But Pecore said they were supposed to sign the document last week, February 8, but Alfonso Lim, the chief executive officer of the Limketkai group has yet to respond to their proposal.
"Nag-follow up nami kung unsay status kay ingon siya February 8 muuli siya kay mostly out of the country man siya, pero wala paman daw kaabot karon," Pecore said in an interview Wednesday, February 13, at the committee meeting of the public utilities.
"Pero in principle, okay na siya nga musulod ta sa ilaha," Pecore said.
City Engineer Rolando Pacuribot for his part proposed that while the MOA is still underway, the DPWH should get a permit to enter their property and start clearing the area.
Securing a permit to enter he said, has been the strategy of the city to start the construction immediately. He said it is best that the project should start now that the weather is fine.
But Pecore said, the Limketkai group considers the MOA as the permit to enter.
"Pwede man pero ang sakit kay ang MOA itself ang moserve as permit," he said.
Pecore said Limketkai also set conditions they already agreed, among them, completing th project for about 1 and a half year.
"Kaya raman na kaayo, ang problema raman is ang weather ug mga underground facilities nga posibleng maapektuhan kay dili man ta kabalo unsay naa diha sa area," he said.
"Pero dili gyud mi makasugod kung dili mapirmahan ang MOA. Siya (Alfonso Lim) ra among gihulatan," he said.
Councilor Lao meanwhile set another committee meeting and urged the presence of any representatives from Limketkai Sons.
He said the government will do anything in its power against Limketkai if it fails to appear to the committee meeting again.