Armada calls for probe of Capitol cracks

By Florence F. Hibionada
Correspondent

Another investigation is in the offing at the Capitol this time to ascertain the cracks at the multi-million seat of the Iloilo Provincial Government.

In a privilege speech Tuesday, Vice Governor Roberto Armada called for the immediate probe of the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) on the apparent defects of the Capitol building.

Valued over P400 million, the new Capitol building is only on its second year of occupancy. Armada raised concern on the reported cracks in various areas of the six-storey building particularly the dome even as findings of the technical team of the Commission on Audit (COA) also noted the same observation.

The SP probe will be conducted by the Committee on Infrastructure chaired by Board Member Rodolfo Cabado. It was not immediately known when the investigation will begin though radio reports said executives of Capitol building contractor, HILMARCS Construction were already notified of the building cracks. Sources told The News Today the matter has long been discussed in previous management meetings with the dome cracks particularly identified and supposed to be rectified.

To note, COA Technical Audit Specialists made the inspection of the grand structure wherein among the significant discoveries were the roof leakage in the dome area, hairline cracks on the walls of the board room at the Governor's Office and the Community Affairs Office. Further still, it was found out that water sips in the interior hallway of at the ground floor particularly noticed at the wall and ceiling of the Treasurer's Office.

“Paving blocks at rear portion of the building were damaged due to base failure. The area was not properly compacted before the installation of the concrete blocks,” the COA Technical Audit report also added.

Present in said inspection were Provincial Engineer Office's Romeo Andig and Lita Jover and Sonny Butch Torres of the HILMARCS Construction.

Armada's call for probe came after the city felt the tremors of an intensity 5 earthquake last week. Other than the cracks, the Vice Governor raised questions on the status of the Capitol's official turn-over from the contractors.

Such alongside more concerns raised on the safety of its daily occupants and the hundreds who transacts daily at the Capitol. To recall, the Iloilo Provincial Government has also yet to comply with fire insurances of its buildings as disclosed in the current COA audit findings.