Standard policies

CEBU, Philippines — The Palarong Pambansa Board should come up with policies concerning standardization of facilities for future sporting events.

This is the suggestion of Department of Education-VII’s Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez, following the controversy concerning the exact measurement of the refurbished Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) rubberized track, which was discovered to lack two meters for its 400-meter measurement.

He said that it is, after all, the Palarong Pambansa Board that created its group of technical officials.

“They identified that and evaluated the playing venues as to its compliance,” Jimenez said.

He said that as the host, the city just presented the possible playing venues and it is up to the Palaro Board to certify if it is compliant or not.

“If it’s not compliant then we have to transfer to another area, look for another alternative area,” he said.

Meanwhile, Engr. Mendel Lopez of Mendel Surveying Solutions Co., the third-party surveyor tapped to reevaluate the track’s measurements, have already started out doing an independent survey of the oval yesterday. Its findings are expected to be revealed today.

Sources earlier said the oval actually had exact measurements but an error happened when new markings were made, based on manual measurements done later

A few members of the Cebu City Council are questioning the capacity of SBD Builders, the contractor of the rubberized track oval of the CCSC and the installation of solar panels in Brgy. Sambag 2 that was recently scrutinized by the body.

Last May, the City Council also called SBD Builders owner Shaun Doherty to explain the delay in the construction of a reinforced deck girder bridge in Brgy. Pulangbato.

The CCSC rubberized track is now mired in controversy after it was learned that it lacks two meters for the 400-meter loop. And just days before the start of the Palarong Pambansa, the supposedly newly refurbished track started showing damage already.

Doherty, however, said they are just a “small contractor” who got projects from the city by winning them “fair and square”.

This came after the City Council discussed and approved last week the resolution of City Councilor Jerry Guardo, chairman of the committee on infrastructure, on the installation of solar panels in Sambag II worth P2 million that SBD won.

Councilor Nestor Archival Sr. raised the concern about the lack of a feasibility study from the proponent to determine the cost of savings that the solar panels would supposedly bring.

“We almost have them blacklisted because they were not able to comply the contract in installing the oval and the (bridge in) Pulangbato. The same contractor. So, they are contracting anything under the sun (now)…I supposed?” pointed out City Councilor Rey Gealon, committee on laws chairman.

Archival agreed, saying it would seem that there is no distinction in the contractor’s line of expertise.

“That’s one point. This is a specialized installation. Maghimo ka’g bridge? Then magbutang ka’g solar?” he said.

Councilor Joy Augustus Young, on the other hand, said that the installation of solar technologies and the rehabilitation of track ovals are supposed to be handled by different contractors.

“For example, sa nahibaw-an nako, daghan mang mutaod og solar, kani siyang SBD, sya lay mo-bid dinhi, makadaog siya, lahi na ilang i-kontrata nga maoy mutrabaho aning solar nya mupatong nalang nang SBD,” he said.

He also added that the government should have awarded these projects to contractors aligned with their expertise, putting emphasis on the right contractor that should have refurbished the CCSC rubberized track.

“Kanang mga nang bid, puro na local nga way idea…Kanang SBD sa rubberized nga oval, di na sila suheto, nanguha rana sila og technology, ila ranang gi kontrata,” Young said.

Sought for his reaction, Doherty complained why they are being “singled out” when they won the biddings for those projects “fair and square.

“It’s an open bidding so anyone can join who is qualified to win or lose,” he said. (CEBU NEWS)