“LET Mike Rama pay their P33.3 million money claims.”
This was Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s response to payment claims made by Espina, Espina-Perez & Associates, the engineering and architectural firm that prepared the design and supervised the construction of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).
Osmeña said he does not want to risk disallowance by the Commission on Audit (COA).
“Why will I risk that (disallowance)? Because of sense of justice? Sorry. Government does not work that way,” he said.
Rama begged off from commenting on Osmeña’s recent attacks while he expressed confidence that Espina, Espina-Perez & Associates can very well handle their money claims with the city government.
“The Espina architects are all professionals. They know what they ought to do. I do not want to sensationalize the comment of the mayor,” Rama told Cebu Daily News in a phone interview Friday night.
Rama also asked the Cebuanos to appreciate the consultancy firm’s decision to waive the P8-million payment for their architectural design of the new CCMC building.
“We, the Cebuanos, should be even thankful to the Espinas. They waived the P8-million fee. It’s an act of voluntarism coming from a distinguished family in Cebu,” added Rama.
The consultancy firm billed the Cebu City government P33.3 million for supervising the construction of the new CCMC building.
However, government lawyers said payment cannot be made unless the firm presents a notice of award from City Hall and a resolution for the procurement of their services issued by the Bids and Awards Committee, a requirement of the Government Procurement Act.
Architect Omar Maxwell Espina said in an earlier statement that they proceeded with their work because of Rama’s assurance that the city will appropriate funds coming from private entities to pay their professional fees.
But Osmeña said during his press con on Friday that he will not risk payment of their P33.3 million claims and instead told Espina to collect said payment from Rama.
“Rama should pay him because it was Rama who gave him his word,” he said.