THE Cebu City Government will conduct an investigation on the P1.3 billion drainage project that has yet to be implemented until now.
City Administrator Collin Rosell said the City Government may take several options on the pending project, including withdrawing the advance payment made in 2021, imposing penalties, or completing the project as soon as possible.
The Commission on Audit (COA), in its 2022 audit report, flagged the City for making an advance payment of P199.323 million for the project, which state auditors deemed excessive because the contractor had failed to implement it as of the end of 2022.
City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo, during the press conference on Friday, July 21, 2023, said the transaction was made during the time of the late mayor Edgardo Labella, and the contract was signed by former city administrator Floro Casas Jr.
Rosell, in an interview on Sunday, July 23, said they will conduct an investigation to find out what’s causing the delay, and hold accountable the people behind it.
“(Let’s) put people responsible, bisan pa’g (even if) subjected to penalty or punishment, if that is called by the people under our existing law, then let it be,” said Rosell. “If you are dealing with the government, just make sure you deliver what you are tasked to do kay kung wala na sya (otherwise) it will entail civil, criminal, administrative liability.”
Rosell said the City will exhaust all available legal remedies concerning the project, considering payment has already been released.
According to the February 2020 report of SunStar Cebu, the P1.3 billion drainage project aims to solve the flooding problems in the city’s southern barangays.
The project was supposed to be implemented in the second quarter of 2020, with the first phase starting at the Mambaling Flyover and ending at the Sto. Tomas Villanueva Church in Barangay Pardo.
The second phase, which was supposed to be constructed simultaneously with the first phase, would start on Leon Kilat St. near Elizabeth Mall and end in Barangay Ermita.
The drainage project was based on the 2017 drainage master plan prepared by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
In an interview on News+One with Pachico A. Seares on SunStar Cebu, Casas defended himself, saying Labella had authorized him to sign disbursement vouchers, payrolls, purchase requests, and such other official documents related to them.
Casas, in a report of SunStar Cebu in 2021, said the late mayor issued a memorandum in 2019 delegating him the authority. The memorandum was also confirmed by the City Council by passing a resolution, he said.
The City Council resolution was approved on July 9, 2019, saying it decided to “delegate and grant authority” for Casas to sign vouchers, payrolls and other official documents “for the exigency of the services and to provide the best public service for the constituents of the City of Cebu.”