Council shelves P28M school bldg projects

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the city’s reported insufficiency in classrooms, the approval of two school building projects totaling P28 million has been stalled at the City Council pending an executive session on September 17.

The deferment of the construction of classrooms in Barangays Pahina Central and San Jose stemmed from lack of validation of the certification of availability of funds by the city treasurer.

Last August 13, the council committee on infrastructure headed by City Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias requested for the funding of the proposed construction of said school buildings.

The projects involve the proposed construction of four-story school building with 28 classrooms in Barangay Pahina and three-story school building with six classrooms in Barangay San Jose with proposed costs of P21,086,667 and P6,918,076, respectively.

But in his resolution, Cabarrubias maintained that “the city budget officer and the city treasurer, for the purpose of satisfaction and full completion of the projects, have certified the sufficiency and availability of the approved budget for the contract necessary therefore.”

Cabarrubias said the funds would be sourced from 2010 Supplemental Budget 5.

He added that the proposed infrastructure projects were duly certified by the city engineer.

Cabarrubias said the construction of school buildings is seen to decongest schools that are highly populated with Cebu City only having 531 classrooms.

The committee is now waiting for the approved resolution authorizing Mayor Michael Rama, for and on behalf of the city, to enter into and sign a contract with the Armed Builders and Supply, the bidder with the lowest calculated responsive bid.

The bidding was conducted on April 14 by the City Bids and Awards Committee.  (FREEMAN)