Mayor defends Mary Ann on CCMC bidding, demolition issue

Councilor Mary Ann De los Santos during the Budget hearing. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Cebu City Mayor Michael yesterday expressed his support for Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos, saying he had “full trust and confidence” in her as head of the ad hoc committee for the new Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

Back from a three-day trip to Manila, the mayor said the lowest bidder who was disqualified by the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) should answer the adverse findings.

“I already approved (the BAC disqualification report). Don’t focus on Mary Ann because she has a point. All were documented. If it’s documented, answer it. Don’t be too personal,” Rama told reporters.

The mayor said he has not yet read  the motion  for reconsideration of the joint-venture of WTG Construction and Development Corp. and A.M. Oreta & Co. Inc., which gave a P275 million bid for the project.

In their motion, WTG Construction challenged the eligibility of De los Santos, saying she  has no right to sit as member of the BAC because she was not a ‘plantilla’ employee in City Hall.

De los Santos later said her appointment to the BAC was covered by a resolution of the  CCMC ad hoc committee under the mayor’s office which designated her as  the representative of the end user or requisitioner of the hospital project.

De los Santos voted for the disqualification of WTG and A.M. Oreta in a 3-2 voting of the BAC last Oct. 31.

Mayor Rama said the  the lowest bidder should  answer the BAC’s findings and not focus on attacking Delos Santos.

“All of them are my friends –  Dakay, Duros, WT, WTG, all are my friends because they belong to the Cebu Contractors Association that will always help Sinulog, and  in case of emergency,” he said.

“But I’ve been telling them I am not afraid of anyone, only God. That’s why I was so upset with PLD Construction in V. Rama Avenue because they though the could take me for granted,” he said, referring to a road project where the contractor’s equipment was blocking the road.

Recently, the CCMC project was again the focus of inquiry when a Sun.Star columnist wrote that the scrap from the demolition of the condemned CCMC building was sold to a contractor for P2.5 million.

“I have full trust and confidence in Mary Ann de los Santos together with  Engr. Jose Marie Poblete (chairman of the BAC)) since it has always been my marching order that they should have proper documents on the demolition.

Delos Santos earlier showed reporters inventory reports listing the equipment and items, including rubble, from the demolition.  The report said the removed items were under the custody of different City Hall offices. An executive session is set on Dec. 4 to discuss this.

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Cebu-based WTG and Manila venture gives lowest bid for CCMC