Firm gets 1 more week to start track oval repairs

CEBU, Philippines — Another week’s extension has been given to SBD Builders to start the rehabilitation of the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) track oval.

Last October 9, Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia gave SBD Builders until the end of the month of October to finish the rehabilitation of the track oval. He added that in their last conversation, SBD Builders pleaded to start the civil works on the first week of November.

In the absence of commencement of civil works, SBD Builders’ termination of their contract for breach of the conditions, namely the lapse of the number of days required for them to finish, looms.

It was reported that the same order was issued by Garcia to SBD Builders over the delays of the construction of the reinforced deck girder bridge from Barangay Pulangbato to Tanay Road.

Accordingly, the construction cost is ?24 million which started last September 15, 2023 and is supposed to run up to 240 calendar days.

Currently, the direction to terminate the contract on the said bridge rehabilitation project is still on process as there are technicalities involved as per Garcia.

“What’s important is we did not pay them in full, so we can still use the remaining funds for rebidding,” said Garcia.

When asked if SBD Builders may be blacklisted from city projects due to the delays of the project executions, Garcia said he will leave this to the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).

“But if it warrants that we will blacklist them from participating from any bidding of the city of Cebu, why not, but what is important is that I will wait of the recommendation from BAC,” said Garcia.

Previously, Garcia ordered rehabilitation anew of the track oval following the damage seen on its surface just months before it reopened for public use.

It has been reported that the Cebu City Council questioned the integrity of SBD Builders following the delays of the projects awarded to them.

SBD Builders was then called to appear in an executive session by the City Council to discuss the delay in the construction of the city projects they were awarded.

As it was ordered to hasten the rehabilitation, the CCSC reopened to the public last June 27, 12 days before the opening of the Palarong Pambansa 2024. (CEBU NEWS)