No computation on cost of stalled housing project yet

By Maricar M. Calubiran

For quite a long time, the city government has yet to come up with a final computation of the actual amount used in the stalled construction of the socialized housing project in the town of Pavia.

One of the dilapidated units at the city's housing project in Pavia, Iloilo.

Atty. Edgar Gil, chief of the City Legal Office said they have already requested City Engineer Marito Amatorio to appraise the construction work of the Ace Builders, the contractor of P130-million housing project.

The city was ordered by the Commission on Audit (CoA) to arrive with figures on how much should the city pay the contractor.

The contractor ceased its operation after the city government refused to pay the fourth billing amounting to more than P4 million.

The city declined to pay the contractor after one of the sub-contractors squealed on the use of substandard materials in the construction project. This also prompted the committee on good government to conduct an investigation. The result of the investigation was forwarded to the Ombudsman Visayas. Several city officials were already asked by the Ombudsman to file their counter reply.

Gil said once they have the computation, they would submit it for the COA's approval. The city could not pay the contractor not until the commission says so.

The delay in the construction of the housing project entails losses to the city government. Housing units are already dilapidated.

Unknown suspects also stole the lavatories and other bathroom fixtures in the housing units.

The city is paying thousands of pesos in loan interest. The project was loaned through a bond flotation scheme. Of the P130 million, P5 million went to the “facilitator”.