OUTGOING Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III is pushing for the release of the partial payment for the Capitol Resource Center, or “Torre de Davide,” in the amount of P194 million. The amount represents 15 percent of the P1.2-billion contract price of the 20-story building being undertaken by WT Construction. Why is Davide pushing for the release even to the extent of threatening Provincial Accountant Marieto Ypil of insubordination? This, despite the warning of incoming governor Gwen Garcia to the outgoing governor not to make any midnight deals and release payment in connection with the controversial project.
The Davide administration applied for a P1.5-billion loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to finance the project. The edifice will house some Capitol departments and offices, while some floors will be rented out to private companies and parking spaces.
Garcia vowed not to pursue the multi-billion-peso project because it is not a priority in her administration as it’s a total waste of taxpayers’ money. Besides, there is a legal implication of the project as it violates the historical and heritage law since the site has been declared by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) as a heritage area and the Capitol failed to present a development plan.
Both Ypil and Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre denied Davide’s request. If Davide really insists on the release of the amount, I can say he is “thick-skinned” and has no sense of delicadeza (sense of propriety). Delicadeza is not a law, but it is an unwritten rule.
If he has committed to the contractor, then that is his problem. After winning in the May 13 elections, Garcia already warned the contractor not to proceed with the civil work on the project because she is not pursuing it. But despite the warning, WT Construction proceeded with the project at its own risk maybe thinking that the incoming governor could no longer stop it as the project already has a budget. As what I have said in my previous columns, there are many ways that Gwen can legally stop the project. There is a pending injunction case filed by Garcia before the Toledo Regional Trial Court. Davide said the project cannot be stopped because of that pending case. It’s up to the court to decide, he said. Well, all Gwen has to do is to withdraw the case and that’s it.
If Davide has delicadeza, he should not push for the initial payment because his demand could be interpreted in so many ways. Is he after his “commission” and the “standard operating procedure” (SOP) from the contractor? Did he take out an advance from the contractor during the elections? There can be so many interpretations and innuendos. He should exit from the governorship with clean hands.
Please leave a legacy of good governance, Mr. Davide.
I hope that Garcia will really live up to her promise not to pursue the project. I’m afraid that there might be a “legal maneuver” later. Like the contractor going to court to “force” the incoming administration to implement the project. Kanang kiha-kiha lang ba pero drama ra diay. Kunuhay napugos sila kay maoy mando sa korte. But there was already a modus vivendi (agreement) between the Capitol and the contractor. This was what happened with the extra work in the Cebu International Convention Center, which was not included in the original budget. The Province was “forced” to pay the contractor because of a court order.