Construction of P1.5-B new Ecija capitol building hit

PALAYAN CITY — Third district Rep. Pacifico Fajardo, who inhibited himself last week from presiding over the hearings of the impeachment complaint against President Estrada in the House of Representatives, has criticized the provincial government for the construction of a "highly expensive and capriciously extravagant" new provincial capitol building here.

Fajardo, chairman of the House committee on justice, said the new capitol building is too expensive in this time of economic difficulties.

He said the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of the provincial government has been mortgaged for 15 years after it negotiated a P1.5-billion loan.

"Bakit naman ganoon kalaki ang ipinagagawa nila? Bakit palasyo ba ’yon (Why are they constructing such a big capitol building? Is that a palace)?," he asked.

The new capitol building in Barangay Atate, whose construction was started early this year and which will be completed in mid-2001, will replace the existing one along Burgos Avenue in Cabanatuan City. The provincial government plans to sell the present site.

Provincial officials said the new capitol building costs between P240 million and P300 million. But the cost of developing the site is much higher due to other physical infrastructure since it will also be converted into a government center to house both national and provincial offices.

Also part of the plan is a stadium to be the home of the Nueva Ecija Patriots.

The provincial government commissioned the services of Palafox Associates in the design of the new capitol building.

The project used to be a joint undertaking of the provincial government and the city government headed by Fajardo’s wife, Mayor Leonora Fajardo.

A few years back, the city government donated a 40-hectare lot in Barangay Atate for the new capitol.

Negotiations were long under way to move the provincial capitol from Cabanatuan to this city. Political leaders in the province, both from the ruling majority and the minority bloc, agreed that this city should be the seat of the provincial government being the designated provincial capital since the 60s.

Rep. Fajardo, who has confirmed his plan to run for governor against incumbent Gov. Tomas Joson III, said the new City Hall, which was constructed under the term of Mayor Fajardo, was completed at a "bargain price" of only P34 million.

"Certainly, it pales in comparison, in terms of cost, to the new capitol building," he said.

Some political observers said the new capitol building has become an issue between the Josons and the Fajardos who are reportedly squaring off in next year’s mid-term elections.

Aside from Joson III and Rep. Fajardo who will dispute the governorship, Mayor Fajardo is seeking to succeed her husband in Congress against Joson’s eldest son Edward Thomas, manager of the Nueva Ecija Patriots.