This is an artist’s rendition of the Capitol Resource Center. | file photo from Capitol PIO
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The fate of the 20-storey Capitol resource center cannot be unilaterally decided by Governor-elect Gwendolyn Garcia.
Outgoing Governor and Vice Governor-elect Hilario Davide III, the project’s proponent, said it would now be up to the courts whether the civil works for the P1.3-billion infrastructure project should be halted.
Garcia, in recent interviews, said the building was not part of her program of government and that she did not intend to make use of the P1.3 billion loan that the province availed from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for the project.
Garcia said that the project was already “dead in the water” when she would assume office noontime on June 30.
Read more: Capitol Resource Center project not a priority – Gwen Garcia
Garcia is one of the vocal critics of the project saying that the building, which would sit beside the Capitol in Cebu City, would not benefit the residents of the province.
“She already sued me and Vice Governor [Agnes] Magpale in the RTC (Regional Trial Court) sa Toledo [City] and sa Ombudsman. Iyaha man nang katungod kay siya na man ang governor but I’m prepared if i-require ta to answer or imbestigaran ta, I am ready to answer kay kahibaw ta nga sakto atong gibuhat,” Davide said in an interview after his proclamation on Thursday afternoon.
(… It’s her right as the new governor but I’m prepared to answer if the court will ask us to explain or if they will ask or if they will investigate, I am ready to answer because I know we did the right thing.)
Read more: Gwen moves to stop construction of resource center in Capitol
Garcia asked the court in Toledo City to issue an injunction order against the project on March 29. She also filed a complaint against Davide, Magpale, Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino, the contractor of the project, and DBP for proceeding with the project.
“There is a pending injunction suit filed before the RTC, but she cannot unilaterally cancel the contract. The court will have to decide,” Davide said.
Davide maintained that the civil works and developments in the project site beside the Capitol would continue until the court would order otherwise.
“The loan had been approved [by the Provincial Board]. Naa may kaso nga gi-file, let’s wait for the court’s decision kay patubagon man mis korte ana (There is already a case filed in court, so let’s wait for the court’s decision because we have been directed to submit a reply to the complaint),” Davide added./dbs