Pavia housing project still facing uncertainty
Majority Floor Leader Eduardo Peñaredondo said the housing project of the city government faces uncertainty since it is a "complicated matter" to deal with. "It is like a high voltage electric current. You will be trapped whichever side one gets into," he said.
Peñaredondo said there is a deadlock on the decision regarding the housing project. The city council recently passed a resolution to rescind the contract between the city government and the contractor, Ace Builders and Enterprise (ABE).
The same resolution requested Mayor Jerry Treñas to initiate legal action against the contractor. The call to revoke the contract was already made several years ago. And yet nothing happened. "You can never see the run rising from the east," Peñaredondo quipped.
It depends on the chief executive and the City Legal Office (CLO) through its head Atty. Edgar Gil to decide on whether to revoke the contract. The legislative body is also waiting for the opinion of the Commission on Audit (CoA), said Peñaredondo.
The issue on the multi-million housing unit was revived after couple Alex and Cecilia Trinidad demanded P26 million from the city government as payment for 61.7 percent accomplishment of the work at the housing project site. The demand was channeled through their legal counsel.
Peñaredondo said the opinion of the CoA is also subject for the deliberation of the legislative body and the confirmation of the city's legal office. Even if the CoA recommends the release of payment but there are still city government offices which needs to confirm the 61.7 percent accomplishment claim of the contractor. The CEO needs to affirm the claim of the contractor on the 61.7 percent accomplishment figure.
Several years ago, the CEO released a report confirming the use of substandard materials in the construction of housing units in Pavia. The use of substandard materials was made public by Rudy Gonzalez, a subcontractor after Trinidad failed to pay him of the contracted work.
Peñaredondo added they should be very careful in making decisions regarding the housing project. There is a pending case before the Ombudsman Visayas and another civil case. There is no decision yet on the cases involving the housing project.
The housing project became a white elephant. The city paid for millions of pesos for the interest and principal loan it obtained from the bank. The city loaned P130 million for the project.
Meanwhile, Mayor Treñas admitted he is very careful in coming out with the decision regarding the housing project considering the pending cases. "It is a complicated matter and we could not easily decide, We want to be safe," Treñas said.