Excavation at Capitol compound:Backfilling almost complete

CEBU, Philippines — Significant progress has been made on the backfilling of the excavated area within the Capitol compound for what was supposed to be the Cebu Provincial Resource Center.

Almost 100 days since Governor Gwendolyn Garcia's assumption in office and a little less than a third of the excavated land where the 20-storey resource center was supposed to stand had already been filled in.

However, there is still a gaping portion of the lot yet to be filled in. Garcia explained that they cannot backfill the spot because of the equipment left by the WT Construction Inc. in the area.

She added, however, that they have already contacted WTCI to move their equipment in order for the backfilling process to be completed.

"Gi-inform na na siya nga ipairog na para mapadayon na na nato ug fill up," Garcia said.

But the governor clarified that the communication to WTCI is to order the construction company to move their equipment to another area in the compound only. The Province of Cebu is still indecisive on what to do with WTCI's equipment since, according to Garcia, the contractor still had a lot to answer to.

"They cannot take it out, dako pa kaayo sila’g tubagonon," Garcia said.

Meanwhile, WTCI reportedly has already made efforts to schedule talks with the Province of Cebu. This information was disclosed by Garcia in an interview.

"Probably he is now realizing that he is dispensable in this point in time. Wa man gud siya motubag sa akong mga suwat," Garcia said.

She substantiated by recalling that prior to the backfilling, WTCI took no need to respond to the multiple letters sent by the Province of Cebu.

"Abi niya na kinahanglan mi makignegotiate niya kay siya ra'y makafill up diha," Garcia said.

The excavation was part of the process in the supposed construction of the P1.3B Provincial Resource Center. This was a project of then governor now Vice Governor Hilario Davide III.

Upon her first day in office, Garcia immediately issued Executive Order Number 1 for WTCI to stop the construction of the resource center and for the backfilling of the lot. Garcia said the continued construction of the building would result to an "irreversible economic loss" for the province.

WTCI was noncompliant with the order to fill in the property. It was not until Visayas Truckers Equipment and Quarry Operators Services Cooperative stepped in "as their contribution in helping Cebu" to backfill the area that progress was made.

"He never considered it worthy of him to answer our letters," Garcia lamented.

Because of this, the Province of Cebu has decided to pursue the blacklisting of WTCI from taking part of any future projects of the Capitol. (FREEMAN)