Gov says consultancy projects ‘above board’

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III (center, partly hidden) talks with Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. during the second Yolanda commemoration at the Capitol Social Hall. At left is Borbon Mayor Butch Sepulveda. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said two proposed consultancies whose contracts would amount to P83 million are “necessary and above board.”

He said their bidding was witnessed by auditors and the projects were in line with two of his administration’s six key agenda – disaster preparedness and investment promotion.

The governor’s prepared statement was issued after One Cebu gubernatorial candidate Winston Garcia dared him to drop the projects or risk being charged for graft before the Ombudsman for pushing projects that were “unnecessary, scandalous, and very questionable.”

Garcia criticized the bidding of a consultancy for design and feasibility for a proposed 12-story building worth P57 million.

He also questioned a P26-million contract for the development of disaster and contingency plans for 51 local government units in Cebu.

Anomalous

Davide said the Commission on Audit (COA) was invited as an observer during the bidding for the projects and even asked questions.

The governor said both consultancies had budgets approved by the Provincial Board.

He also said the consultancy for disaster management even went through the Provincial Development Council (PDC).

“How then can these consultancies be anomalous? Only scandalous and shortsighted people can see it that way. People with anomalous minds, used to anomalous ways can attribute anomalous motives to others,” said Davide, who is seeking reelection under the Liberal Party next year.

Mixed use

Davide explained that the proposed 12-story building will replace the quake-damaged BaEX building in the Capitol compound that was hit by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake two years ago.

“We badly need office space after the closure of the BaEX building,” he said.

In its place, a new building wil house a resource command center for disaster risk reduction (DRR, Capitol office spaces, and commercial spaces in a mixed-use concept.

Davide said the Capitol expects to earn from the lease of commercial spaces.

“The proposed building will NEVER be a white elephant. NEVER AGAIN,” he said in his statement.

He said the study will include detailed engineering and architectural design, feasibility, and construction supervision.

Industry practice

Davide said the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) isn’t capable of conducting the study since their expertise and experience was for roads and horizontal structures, and two-story buildings like schools.

“The costing is based on industry practice and is within industry standards. We are undertaking this major capital outlay with careful and thorough studies. Did they do the same with the CICC?” Davide said.

The Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), built in time for the 12th Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in 2007, is considered by the governor as a “monument of corruption.”

Garcia, in a text message, still challenged the P26-million cost for the engineering services, saying the feasibility study for the CICC only cost the previous administration P16 million.

Mandated

Davide also defended the P57-million consultancy contract intended for “mainstreaming” disaster and contingency plans for each component city and municipality of Cebu.

He said this is mandated in Republic Act A 10121.

“The proposed consultancy is aimed at providing various capacity-building activities that would better prepare LGUs during disasters,” the governor said.

The project scope will cover seven months of trainings, workshops, and consultations.

The outputs can be used at the barangay level.

Davide said the budget is approximately P500,000 per municipality for the span of work required.

The governor said this is being outsourced because the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) cannot do it on its own.

PDRRMO Chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., in a separate interview, said the office has 30 staff but only a few are capable to give training sessions.

The PDRRMO was made a full-time department this year, a first under the Davide administration.

Tribunalo said his office needs to attend to other aspects of DRRM .

“I can say that I am capable, but if I do everything—from speaking, to writing, to finalizing the plans—then I might die,” Tribunalo said in jest.

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Gov says consultancy projects ‘above board’