Treñas backs Mabilog’s move to put closure on housing mess
Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas has expressed optimism on the interest of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog to put closure to the long-running controversy over the city’s P130-million housing project in Brgy. Ungka, Pavia, Iloilo.
In a Philippine News Agency report, Treñas said he is supporting the move of Mabilog move to rescind the housing project contract with Ace Builders Enterprises which he had not done during his term as mayor.
The several criminal and administrative cases filed against him before the Ombudsman and the local courts regarding the housing project deterred him from acting with resolve to rescind the contract, he said.
The contract for the housing project in Pavia was perfected during the administration of Mayor Mansueto Malabor with the release of a mobilization fund and initial release for construction.
When Treñas was elected mayor, in 2001 he pursued the housing contract as advised by the City Legal Office. The Treñas administration also released the construction amount up to the third billing costing some P61 million.
However, the fourth contractor billing was not paid due to complaints of substandard materials used in the construction of housing units. The contractor also abandoned the project in 2003 without finishing the housing units.
The amount due the Land Bank of the Philippines ballooned to more than P81 million including interests which was already paid by the city government, Treñas said.
He said it is up to Mabilog to do whatever is necessary about the project and he will fully support it.
For his part, Mabilog said he is eyeing a long-term public-private partnership for the project or the city may even sell the whole project site which is along the major road going to the town proper of Pavia.
Mabilog said there are also proposals that the area comprising more than 10 hectares be converted into a one-stop shop government center, a shopping complex and business process outsourcing area, or to just continue the housing project, once the contract is rescinded.
