Refer Carbon market issue to court - DILG

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Interior and Local Government tells the City Council to refer their queries on the reconstruction of the Carbon Market Unit 2 to the court.

Department of Interior and Local Governance (DILG) 7 Regional Director Anianas Villacorta, in a letter addressed to Sangguniang Panlungsod presiding officer, outgoing Vice Mayor Joy Young, referred their inquiry to the judicial department as the proper venue to address their questions regarding the project.

“Please be advised that ultimately, a proper judicial determination is necessary in ascertaining if the same description is adequate (or not) to warrant the execution of a contract for the reconstruction of Carbon Unit 2 even without further authority from the concerned Sanggunian to the City Mayor,” Villacorta said.

The City Council earlier asked an opinion from the agency on their questions regarding the latest efforts to rebuild the Carbon market structure razed by a huge fire in the late 1990s.

The transaction in 2012 by Mayor Michael Rama awarding the project to Geety Realty Development Corporation was questioned by the council insisting they were not consulted prior to the contract signing.

The first contractor for the restoration project was Young Builders Corporation whose contract was terminated by Rama due to its failure to meet the terms in the signed agreement.

Young reiterated the stand of the council that they should have been consulted prior to the signing of the new contract considering the pending protest of the deferred contractor.

“I do not see anything wrong with the project. Ang ako lang nga kinahanglan muagi na sa amo (council),” Young told reporters.

He added that the council is just doing its job in making sure that the executive branch is doing the right thing.

“This is just a matter of check and balance. You cannot give the mayor all the authority to transact on behalf of the city,” the outgoing vice mayor continued.

Villacorta’s letter cited both points of the mayor and the council but refused to take sides stressing the need to get the court’s decision. —(FREEMAN)