Town ordered to pay contractor

CEBU, Philippines - The court has ordered the municipality of Valencia to settle payables with a local contractor in connection with the construction of the multi-million water works system in 2001 that was completed the following year.

Mayor Edgar Y. Teves said he doesn't want to be charged with contempt and go to jail for an obligation she is not a party of, in directing the auditor to answer the writ of execution which was ordered by the sheriff in February this year.

The mayor disclosed that his administration has set aside P3.7 million for such purpose in order to settle the payables, but the Sangguniang Bayan also wanted to clear things out by referring the matter to the auditor.

This stemmed from the contractor's remaining obligation of  P1.7 million to New Bian Yek Commercial who won the bid to supply the materials used in the waterworks system. 

The amount would have been shouldered by the 10% retention of the total project cost, if it was deposited with the local bank.  But the same was allegedly paid to Legacy Construction and Development Corporation in spite of the supplier's demand.

In lieu of this development, Mayor Teves is contemplating on hiring  a legal officer for the municipality in June or July this year to take care of its legal concerns,  taking into consideration the provincewide coverage of the provincial attorney's office.

This developed as another P1 million is being set aside by the municipality to strengthen the structure of the Industrial Park building, which critics of the previous administration considered as a "white elephant."

Instead of allowing the industrial park building to rot, and put to waste million of  pesos in government money, Mayor Teves wanted to utilize the area as Bagsakan for farm products and animals, similar to the flea market in Malatapay, Maluay, Zamboanguita.  (FREEMAN)