Unit II Carbon Market reconstruction to start soon

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government intends to start the reconstruction of the Unit II Building of Carbon Market using the P170 million stand-by fund.

The amount is already about half of the total amount needed for the project. The P70 million was appropriated last year while the P100 million will be available under the Annual Budget next year. The total project cost is estimated at over P300 million.

Atty. Dominic Diño, assistant city administrator for economic enterprise, said that the amount is enough to start the first phase of the project.

He said the Market Authority is yet to meet with the Department of Engineering and Public Works to task the latter to identify the scope of the first phase. But Diño said it would probably include the works for the foundation and the first level.

The structure shall consist of two levels and the rooftop will be used for parking.

Diño said that once phase 1 is identified, the DEPW shall prepare all the necessary documents including the Program of Works and Estimates until it is ready for bidding.

The executive will have to find immediately a source of fund for the balance because Diño said, it will not be good for the displaced vendors if the project will be stopped after phase 1 due to lack of budget.

Diño said they intend to implement the project continuously. They will only divide it by phases for budgeting purposes because he said they cannot bid out the whole project if there is not enough money available.

The construction of the Unit II building of Carbon Market has been pending for 13 years. The building was destroyed by fire in that late 1990s. The vendors displaced by the fire were relocated along the road. The Market Authority wants to start the construction as soon as possible to clear the roads of obstruction to bring back the order in the area.

Then mayor Tomas Osmeña was supposed to start the construction but was stopped because of a problem with the contractor.

The plan to reconstruct the building was revived when Mayor Michael Rama assumed office. — (FREEMAN)