COA asks NGC documents from SP
BACOLOD CITY -- The Commission on Audit Team 2 Bacolod City sent a letter to Sangguniang Panglungsod Secretary Atty. Nilo Alejandrino requesting documents in view of their on-going audit of the newly completed Bacolod New Government Center (NGC).
The letter dated October 22, 2008 is signed by Sheila S. Velmonte-Portal, State Auditor III and the Team Leader.
She is asking for the following documents: Instruction to Bidders (Section 1); Bid Data Sheet (Section II); General Conditions of Contract (section III); Special Condition of the Contract (Section IV), Bid Forms (Section VII); Performance Bond (Issued by Prudential Guarantee); Eligibility Documents submitted by Hilmarc's Construction Corporation and Bid Proposals both the financial and technical.
Atty. Alejandrino said since these documents are all public records and if available, he will provide it to the auditing body.
He is hoping that COA will not be in a hurry because these records happened in 2006 and he would still retrieve it from the archives and files.
Recently, the COA Central Office has constituted a special team to conduct contract review and inspection of the Bacolod City Government Center from Oct. 13 to 24, 2008.
COA Order No. 2008-228 signed by Chairman Reynaldo Villar has directed the team composed of engineers Roldan Menciano and Lawrence Tato, as team leader and member, respectively, to submit a report within 30 days after completion of their fieldwork.
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia expressed surprise over this extraordinary move that came just after the COA had already come up with a technical report last year showing that the contract price of the Bacolod City Government Center for the amount of P394 million is "reasonable".
"We were surprised when, all of a sudden, they got word that there is going to be a "special audit" on the government center but we welcome the COA anytime, and subscribe to the idea that it is a constitutional body and is mandated to do its function," Leonardia added.