COA: Cost of New Government Center reasonable
BACOLOD CITY -- Mayor Evelio Leonardia released yesterday the result of the Commission on Audit's (COA) Technical Services evaluation of the contract of agreement between the City Government of Bacolod and Hilmarcs Construction Corporation for the construction of the New Bacolod City Government Center for a cost of P394,957,121.01.
The report stated that the contract price is found to be 8.18 % above the COA Cost Evaluation hence, considered reasonable pursuant to Sec. 7 of COA Resolution No. 91-52 adopted on September 17.1991.
The report was prepared by Edwin Tacuel for Civil and Structural Works, Jose Maria Danilo C. Lujan for Architectural Works, Jaime Ongsotto Jr. and Ma. Rholyn Bueno for Mechnical and Electrical Works and Jose Superio and Moises T. Padilla for Plumbing Works. Said technical evaluation was reviewed by Priscilla Muyuela and duly approved by Inocencio Cabahug Jr. OIC-Regional Cluster Director.
The COA report was released by the Mayor to refute charges by his critics that the NGC is a center of corruption due to the overpricing of materials.
Leonardia further stressed that he released this technical evaluation to inform the public that the issue that the project was overpriced has no basis and it is only a matter of opinion. "We would like now our people to know that this government project is not overpriced at all and this is the official report," Leonardia said.
He added that if there are groups spreading the issue of overpricing, that could be malicious and unfair. Leonardia yesterday revealed that during the Apostollic Nuncio visit at the New Government Center, his detractors opposed the simple blessing because the government center is allegedly tainted with anomalies. But the mayor pursued his desire that the Papal Nuncio will undertake the simple blessing and prayer for the new government center.
The evaluation of New Government Center was based on COA Resolution 91-52 dated September 17, 1991 which fixes policy guidelines, auditorial review and evaluation of bidded Infrastructure Contracts awarded after public bidding.