Performing Arts Center: Gwen admits renovation delay but denies fault

CEBU, Philippines – Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said yesterday she is not to blame for the delay in the renovation of the Cebu Performing Arts Center in Barangay Lahug.

Garcia said she only took over the project in 2004 when she assumed as governor of Cebu and voluntarily decided to pursue the renovation because the project was already delayed at that time. The center was constructed in 2003.

Garcia made the comment after the Commission on Audit sent urged her to hasten the renovation of the center. COA said the delay in renovation has resulted in the waste of funds, vandalism and deterioration of parts of the building.

COA also noted delays in the process at Capitol, citing among others, the submission of accounting and contract documents, which, in turn, delayed auditing.

"The building has demolished areas left undone and some areas like comfort rooms were vandalized," the 100-page report reads.

"Rehabilitation of the performing arts center on piecemeal basis, refurbishing and demolishing of completed areas due to architectural innovations resulted to waste of funds due to poor planning," COA said.

Garcia assured that the renovation will continue, but admitted the delays. "You cannot have a perfect world," she said.

In a letter to Garcia, COA Regional Director Delfin Aguilar said the audit was focused on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the provincial government in the attainment of its plan and targets for the rehabilitation of the Cebu Performing Arts Center.

The Governor's office received the letter on October 19.

COA auditors led by Supervising Auditopr Naomi Medeci and state auditor Evelyn Luise Rivera said Capitol should revisit its program of works and set a timetable to finish project.

"The problem is we estimated a short time even if the COA engineer division said that the reason why we had a failure because we estimated a short time and I myself will not allow that I will estimate a longer time for project," Garcia explained. (FREEMAN)