THE Court of Appeals-Mindanao Station (CA) is advised to vacate its office in Julio Pacana Street, Barangay 21, Cagayan de Oro City, as engineers found the building unsafe due to the large cracks caused by the series of earthquakes.
The CA-Mindanao has suspended its work since last week, only requiring minimum personnel to report for the CA's receiving station.
In a letter to Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, CA-Mindanao Executive Justice Edgardo Camello said a team of engineers determined that the YMCA building, which houses the Mindanao Station, is no longer suitable for human occupancy due to the large cracks found on the floor slabs and beams.
Camello has asked the Supreme Court's approval to secure a temporary office for the frontline offices, particularly the receiving section to restore the basic administrative functions.
The CA-Mindanao expressed its intent to lease an office space in One Providence and in SM CDO Downtown Tower.
The appellate court is also asking for an emergency funding support for the monthly lease payment for the office spaces, estimated to cost P2,212,500 to P2,300,000 and another fund for the renovation of these offices with an estimated amount of P27,491,737.
The court also asked another P20,055,000 for the cost of office equipment and furniture in their new office.
To restore operations the soonest possible, the CA also asked the Supreme Court to exempt them from procurement, bidding, and auditing rules, and authorize them in a negotiated procurement.
City Engineer Rolando Pacuribot said the CA-Mindanao has commissioned a private team of engineers to inspect their building. But its own findings also affirmed the results of the private engineers, that the building is unsafe for occupation.
Pacuribot said the building has sustained damages in its 3rd and 4th floors which could put employees at risk.