BAGUIO City Councilor Mylen Yaranon confirmed that no horizontal tunneling was done at Baguio Convention Center (BCC).
"We had a meeting yesterday with the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), it was not confirmed and MGB (Mines and Geoscience Bureau) already inspected the site and there was no evidence of tunneling. What was only present was the bore test and bore holes which Mr. Cabusao did to find out if there were gold there and when they removed the testing that they did, they grouted it already which was done even before they left," Yaranon said.
Yaranon added past treasure hunting activities of Eliseo Cabusao should not be a reason for contractor, Dave Sanchez, to delay work on the BCC.
"Treasure hunting by Cabusao had been grouted as soon as they were asked to stop by CBAO (City Buildings and Architecture Office) last year, so this should not be a reason for delays, the DPWH is requesting Cabusao to submit a written certificate that the grouting of the bore holes were already done," she said.
In the weekly Talakayan sa Environment Code forum of the Baguio Regreening Movement, the lady lawmaker said the alleged tunneling activities was just speculation.
"What DPWH is waiting for is for Mr. Cabusao to give the certification that the bore holes have been grouted so that we would not be blaming each other later on. This was already confirmed by the MGB and Engineer Dela Pena was also there, what we will do is validation again if it was really grouted for all of us to be aware," Yaranon added.
On July 4, Yaranon conducted a re-inspection of BCC to see for herself the ongoing rehabilitation works prior to updating Mayor Benjamin Magalong. She said was not satisfied with the progress of the project.
"Walang elevator eh, and City plans were not followed, we have to make do with contractor's revised plans," she said.
Despite the ongoing rehabilitation works, an unfinished BCC will greet the residents on the City"s Charter Day celebration on September 1, 2019.
The councilor earlier said parts of BCC can be used for the Charter Day celebration.
Yaranon pointed out that the convention center is 60 percent done. The main hall already has ceiling and walls and toilet tiles installed.
City stakeholders and the DPWH have not been meeting the past months due to an impasse in work and plans implemented for the convention center, confusion arose when the DPWH presented revised plans for the BCC signed by the mayor without blessings from neither the technical working group, the CBAO and the City Council.
DPWH revised plans and took out the elevator, escalator and mezzanine, saying the structural integrity of the BCC will not allow the additions. (With a report from Maria Elena Catajan)