The construction of the new Senate Building in Taguig is already delayed by more two years.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano made the disclosure as he castigated the Department of Public Works and Highways, specifically the Buildings and Special Projects Management Cluster Project Director Soledad Florencio. during a Senate hearing.
“Just like I said, let’s stop reasoning out.No one wants the pandemic to happen. We shut down and so I understand, but it’s not true that there’s no delay. It was delayed by 852 days,” Cayetano, now the head of the Senate Committee on Accounts.
Cayetano, who replaced Senator Nancy Binay as the head of the committeefollowing the recent change in the Senate leadership, alsotook a swipe at individuals allegedly claiming that he and Senate President Francis Escudero were causing the delays to the construction of the NSB.
“My only question is how many days the delay is because there are people who are saying that Sen. Escudero and I are delaying it. So, because of the delay of 852 days, how much is the additional cost of the project?“ Cayetano was quoted as saying.
In response, Director Florencio explained that the delays are due to variation orders.
Earlier, Escudero ordered a review of the building’s cost after he was informed by Cayetano about an apparent “unexplained increase” in the building’s construction fee from an initial budget of P8 billion to a projected P23.3 billion.
Cayetano, however,insisted that the construction of NSB will continue despite his panel’s review of the building’s cost.
Data from DPWH showed that due to the 852 days delay in the project, a total of P78 million fee was charged.
But apart from this, Cayetano said more or less P170 million was likewise incurred for NSB’s design fees alone.
“So let me clarify this part because I also watched the news last night where someone from DPWH said that there is no order to stop it yet. What is being said in the news is that phase 1 and phase 2 are the ones that have been built up, this is ongoing, the construction can continue there which we are reviewing, there is no conflict,” Cayetano said.
He added: “We are just looking at the documentation, we’re looking at the whys and whats, but construction continuous so there’s no delay”.
Phase 1 and Phase 2 cover the Core and Shell as well as the Fit-Out of the building.Cayetano said what the committee on accounts would review is the additional P10 billion needed that has yet to be procured.
“So, this is the one that’s on hold.And I agree and support the decision of the Senate President, and this will not cause delays because we have to find out if the amount is right and the purchase is right and the construction is also right,” Cayetano said.
Meanwhile, former Senator Panfilo Lacson suggested that Cayetano and Binay should meet and talk about the ongoing construction.
“It was painful to watch,” Lacson describing the exchange between Cayetano and Binay as they traded barbs last week during the Senate Committee on Accounts review of the cost of the NSB.
Lacson, who also used to head the Senate Committee on Accounts, said they have envisioned the new Senate home to be world-class and iconic but now laments that is being perceived as another symbol of government abuse of public funds.
“This is a century-old dream for the Philippine Senate to finally have its own home, one that is iconic, secure, functional, and green is about to come to fruition, it is said that it is now perceived, rightly or wrongly, as another symbol of government abuse of public funds,” Lacson explained.
The meeting between Cayetano and Binay is yet to be scheduled, according to Lacson.