Capitol to Seek COA’s Help

The Cebu Provincial Capitol is set to ask the Commission on Audit (COA) for advice on its current headache with regards to the settlement of its financial obligations to contractors of the projects which did not pass through the Provincial Board (PB).

“We are asked to settle those liabilities nga wa ma-approve sa PB. We are in a dilemma kay wa man gyud to naaprubahan. In COA’s findings, there was no approval from the PB but yet gipadayon gihapon,” PB member Grecilda Sanches said.

Sanchez, who heads the committee on Budget and Appropriation, said the Capitol has at least P500 million in payables to contractors whose projects are questionable since these did not have the PB approval.

Sanchez said since these problems were inherited by Gov. Hilario Davide III from former Gov. Gwen Garcia, hence she approved of Davide’s decision not to pay the contractors because of the projects’ lack of legislative approval.

The PB member said COA has also questioned Garcia’s moves, and even asked the former governor to explain it. However, it baffles her why COA allowed the Capitol, during Garcia’s time, to pay the contractors when the projects have defective contracts in the first place.

“Sila (COA) ang miingon nga wa miagi sa PB pero sila sab ang wa mi-disapprove sa payment,” Sanchez added.

She said now with Davide in the Capitol, it is just right for the governor to refuse payment on the remaining balance, especially that the projects were allegedly overpriced.

“If ever there was overpricing, and if we ratify the contracts which are overpriced, there would be some issues that we might face later on,” she said referring to the case of Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

Sanchez alleged the construction of the CICC was “overpriced,” which ended in a lawsuit against the former governor. Another example, she said, is the Balili property in the City of Naga, purchased for P98.7 million under Garcia’s administration, but was later on found out to be submerged in seawater.

“ We would like to ask COA’s assessment. Because it has to be guided accordingly sa ilang findings. We are quite in quandary because COA did not disapprove. But yet the (COA) said it needed approval. That’s why I wrote a letter to heed the investigation. DILG too, to be guided accordingly para di mahitabo ang sa una,” she explained.

“If Gwen had only ask for approval, iyaha gud to tanan (the PB members). Ako’ng papa (former Vice Governor Greg Sanchez) sa 2007 (was with Garcia’s side). Had only she asked for approval, tagaan siya uy,” she said.