CEBU, Philippines — Track oval, yesterday assured that delivery of the materials for the facility’s repairs is “on schedule.”
This, after Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia agreed to give it until the first week of November to start the repairs, otherwise it loses the contract for the project.
“We will start the repair first week of November, depending if the weather is favorable. But we are on schedule,” said Shaun Doherty, SBD Builders owner, in a text message to reporters yesterday.
He assured that the arrival of the rubber materials is “on schedule” and that they are doing their best to finish the repair before December, without compromising the quality of the repairs.
Garcia issued a directive on October 9, giving SBD Builders until the end of the month to complete the track oval rehabilitation. Failure to meet this deadline could result in the termination of its contract.
The other day, the mayor told a press conference that SBD Builders pleaded to start the civil works on the first week of November, which he agreed upon.
The City Council had previously red-flagged SBD Builders because of the unfinished construction of a bridge in Brgy. Pulangbato and the quality of work that it did in renovating the rubberized track for the July Palarong Pambansa.
It is the damage the track had already suffered that the city wants SBD to repair before it gets paid for the work it did.
Yesterday, opposition City Councilor Nestor Archival questioned the expertise of SBD Builders in requesting an extension to the mayor’s ultimatum.
He argued that SBD Builders was awarded with the track oval project but was also awarded with a solar installation project, which, to him, shows that SBD does not have a clear distinction on its specialization as a contractor.
“Number one mao gyud ni, di sila kamao. Mao gyud ni akong gitan-aw nga di sila kamao mohimo ana because installation of this project should be a specialty. That’s why nangayo ko og naa na ba ni silay nahimo before. Kay kung wala silay nahimo gi-practice-san ang City Government ana,” Archival said.
Archival said the one-week extension is not reason for the non-completion of the repairs.
“Until now wala pa. Another thing is, nangutana ta sa ga-handle sa sports facility there, ingon sya nga nangatangtang na halos tanan, so basically, di na sya pwede hinay hinayon, kailangan tangtangon na siya nimo tibuok,” he said.
Aside from the track oval, SBD Builders also got the contract during the administration of then mayor Michael Rama for the city-funded construction of a reinforced deck girder bridge in Sitio Candarong, Brgy. Pulangbato for P24 million.
Construction of the bridge started on Sept. 15, 2023 and it is supposed to be finished within 240 days, or on May 14 this year.
Until now, however, the bridge is far from being finished. — /RHM (FREEMAN)