MANILA -- Luxury tiles are among the materials listed in one of the 2 contracts for the construction of the new Senate building Project in Taguig City.

The ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group has acquired copies of the 2 contracts for phases 1 and 2 of the New Senate Building Project in Taguig City with a combined value of 10.457B.  

The contracts are available on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) website.

The Contract for phase 2 covers parts of Basement 1, Ground Floor, Second Floor, Third Floor, Fourth Floor including the Plenary Hall, the 5th floor, sixth floor and 8th floor.

Listed under the Items of Work covered by the Contract on page 4 under  Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Sanitary/Plumbing Works Finishing and Other Civil Works, Item 1018(3)B is Granite Tiles, which are specifically named  as "Luxury" Series. These have a unit price of P43,996.59 per square meter and total price of P351, 972.72.

The total contract for phase 1 is 8.067B while the contract for phase 2 is over 2.390B.

Both contracts were signed by officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the contractor, Hillmarc's Construction Corporation.

Senator Nancy Binay, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Accounts until last May 20, 2024 that is in charge of the new Senate building, said the specific item has not been approved and has not been purchased.

Binay said only the tiles for the garden on the 8th floor have been approved.

She explained in a phone call that a materials selection committee goes over the submissions of the DPWH.

"Kami yung mag-aapprove kung go or not go yung material na 'yun and then during the material selection process dino-double check if the price is reasonable saka tama. Mayroon office kami sa Senate that checks the price and then pagkatapos noon pipili na," Binay said.

Binay said the Senate is now at the stage of construction where they are picking the materials to see if it will fit the vision for the building. Among the considerations being warranty, maintenance, durability,  and availability of materials in case they need to be replaced or fixed.

"Hindi naman yung nakasulat doon yun na," she added. "Hindi pa yun final."

"Possible di pa rin yan yung materyales at the end of the day. Grupo yung nagdedecide kung okay ba or di okay," Binay explained.

Her predecessor in the Accounts Committee, former Senator Panfilo Lacson who is one of the original proponents of the new Senate Building, vouched for Binay.

"Ako based on my conversations, conversations with my former staff na nasa kanya ngayon, I have no reason to doubt the determination at saka yung passion ni Sen. Nancy para matapos itong Senate building nang maayos at hindi magastos," Lacson told a TV interview.

Lacson also supported current Senate Accounts Committee Chair Alan Peter Cayetano's recommendations and findings on the project, which became the basis for the suspension of the project's phase 3 pending the review of the project. 

Lacson said he too found the same issues that he believes point to the direction of the DPWH.

"The observations made by Senator Cayetano are on point. Kasi yun din yung mga namomonitor ko from the staff, members of the staff who were absorbed by Sen. Nancy Ganoon talaga yung issues na lumalabas," Lacson said. "Most of the issues na nakita would only point to one direction, DPWH kasi parang ito during my time as the Chairman ng Accounts Committee yan din lagi ang dispute namin, tug of war variation orders tapos mga deviations na 'di magkasundo."

Lacson said Binay actually refused to pay for one of the deviations made during construction -- the change to the ceiling height.

"As a matter of fact I just learned na yung progress billing #17, yun yung ayaw bayaran ni Sen. Nancy and good for her kasi ito yung height ng ceiling na bawasan not only doon sa basement parking  levels pati sa main building, merong mga naiba kasi pagka nabawasan yung height  ibig sabihin nakamenos sa gastos di ba pero bakit ganoon ay wala sa inspection," Lacson said.

Lacson said he would have done what Binay had done if he was still around.

"Ang ganoon pa rin ang gagawin at ginagawa naman talaga ni Sen. Binay na talagang hindi siya bumibigay doon sa mga gustong gawin ng DPWH of course through Hillmarc kasi Hillmarc ang contractor  kaya for example yung tiling, yung sa tiles," Lacson said.

He said there are limits to the changes that may be allowed to be made on the project.

"Ang pwedeng acceptable lang yung escalation. Halimbawa nagkaroon ng inflation at tapos may kailangang i-adjust kasi baka na-overlook sa pagdesign. Pero pagka yung parang hindi na necessity, parang kapritso na lang eh hindi acceptable yan." Lacson said, as he maintained Binay was right to reject the changes  or variation orders being made.

Lacson revealed that one issue is that apparently an oversight led to the lack of waterproofing.

"Pag nag-award ka ng contract na mag-iinstall ka ng tiles, ang essentials doon kasama na dapat like waterproofing, yung pagsemento sa ibabaw, di nagawa ang sabi raw ng DPWH, nakalimutan nila yung waterproofing so syempre ang prublema ngayon tatanggalin ba lahat yung tiles para mag waterproof o yun ang nagiging problema," Lacson said.

He said the win-win solution for now is exactly what the leadership is doing--continue with the first 2 phases and review the last phase. 

Lacson said Binay has refused to move on the project until the flaws that were discovered have been fixed.

He said that since phase 3 has not been contracted out, and they can still bring down the cost.

"At kung papaano matitipid pa yung P10.3 billion para di umabot ng P23.3 billion, yan na lang ang gawin." Lacson said. "Nang nag-usap kami ni SP Chiz with along with Tito Sen, yan din ang advice na binigay sa kanya ni Sen Sotto. Para wag na  lang ma-delay, pag-aralan na lang  kung paano matitipid ang di pa nagastos na pera sa P10.3 billion. Kung mapababa yun ng say from P23 billion, maging P15-16 billion without sacrificing yung mga criteria."

Lacson stressed that the budget for phase 3, valued at 10.3B was a DPWH initiative but it doesn't mean all would be spent.

"Ang recommendation dito nanggaling din sa DPWH. Pero hindi sinasabing magagastos talaga yan. Appropriations yan na kung di maubos naman, ibabalik natin sa Treasury. Savings yan. Yan siguro dapat gawin ni SP Chiz at Sen Alan na tipirin ang P10.3 billion. Huwag gastusin  lahat yung P10.3 billion, without sacrificing as I mentioned yung mga  criteria na nakapaloob dito sa proyekto." Lacson said.

CONTROVERSIAL BUILDER

Lacson recalls anticipating controversy over the project after Hillmarc's Construction Corporation emerged as the sole bidder for the project when it began. 

That's why he urged both the DPWH and the firm to spare it from controversy.

The builder had been investigated by the Senate  during the 2nd Aquino administration over its construction of Makati City Hall's infrastructure projects.

"Ina-anticipate ko na ito even before, the moment Hilmarc won the bidding, in-anticipate ko na. That’s why my initial action was to gather DPWH and Hilmarc representatives in a meeting at doon  talagang parang in no uncertain terms sinabi ko sa kanila, patawarin ninyo itong Senate building. Kung anuman yung  mga kalokohan na meron sa departmento, kung pwede i-exempt nyo itong Senate Building. At alam naman nila na dahil ako nga yung malimit mag-scrutinize ng budget ng DPWH at malimit mag question sa mga VOs sa ibang government projects,  so alam nila I really meant business. But unfortunately umabot sa ganito," Lacson said.

He recalled that the DPWH appeared not to have a choice but to give the project to the firm.

"Initially ang  mga nag-submit ng bidding docs, DMCI; itong natatandaan ko DDT (Konstract), yung contractor like SM and Robinsons, mga capable. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit bandang huli, nagsipag-atrasan naiwanan mag-isa si Hilmarc. Wala nang choice ang DPWH kundi i-award kay Hilmarc, kasi mag-vaviolate naman sila ng batas, ng procurement law, kung may nanalo tapos di nila ia-award," Lacson recalled.

He also added that the firm's leader saw it as an opportunity to clear their names.

"I remember Hillmarc, si Mr. Efren Canlas mismo, noong nanalo siya, ito yung parang unang lumabas sa bibig niya, ito yung pagkakataon ko para bumawi, para maibangon uli yung reputasyon na nasira dahil sa investigation ng Senate," Lacson said. "Looking back, yan yung parang pinanghahawakan ko na pagaayusin niya ito. Pero alam mo along the way habang nagko-construct na, maraming mga  factors na pumapasok na  di natin alam di  naman tayo privy kung anong nangyayari sa usapan ni Mr. Canlas at saka DPWH or whoever is assigned. "

Binay maintained she had nothing to do with the awarding of the contract as it was done by the DPWH by its secretary, now Senator Mark Villar. The Senate previously investigated Hillmarc's projects in Makati when Binay's father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay was mayor.

COST OF LAND 

Lacson meantime pointed out that part of the over all cost of construction of P23.3 billion is the cost of land acquisition even if the land is not part of the construction.

"By the way, napansin ko lang doon sa breakdown, nasama doon sa P23.3 billion ang cost ng real estate, ng land. Hindi naman part ng construction yung land. In fact pwedeng ipagmalaki dito na yung presyo ng lupa napakamura. Concession nga yung naging presyo and hulugan pa ito. 2 taon na lang yata matatapos na hulog, at P90K per sq m, that’s P1.62 billion na napasama doon sa P23.3 billion," Lacson explained. 

He said the cost of the land is constant even if its value has since risen.

"Yes, fixed yan. Di mo pwede isama sa lumobo na P23 billion kasi fixed na yan sa P1.62 billion. Sinasabi ko lang, gain na rin ng Senate yan kasi nag-appreciate in value, pwedeng tenfold. Kasi from P90K, naging P500K, yung iba nga  rito na  P1M per square meter. Ganito kalaki ang ganansiya."

SPACE FOR 65 SENATORS

Lacson also doused claims that about inadequate office and parking space in the new building, as it was designed to have 65 senators because when it began, there was a push to amend the charter.

"More than enough. Kasi nag-request si Sen. Koko  Pimentel noon, ina-anticipate niya na magkakaroon ng Charter change at yung mga senador magiging elected by region. So sabi niya Sen. Ping, baka pwede mag-accommodate tayo parang good for 65 senators," Lacson said. ""Hindi ko rin alam kung saan nanggaling yung agam-agam ni SP Chiz na mas maliit pa yung offices kaysa GSIS. Kasi kung good for 65 senators and there are only 24 senators, I can just imagine na kakalog kalog yung 24 senators sa accommodations para sa 65 na mga senators."

FALSE ECONOMY

Lacson stood by the project despite criticisms, citing that the Senate is spending a lot in renting its current space at the GSIS Financial Center in Pasay City.

"Ang ginagastos ng Senado sa upa sa GSIS pati sa SSS, P315 million a year na. P100K para sa parking SSS yun tapos sa building P250 million na. May escalation pa ito na 10% per annum. Tapos meron pang unforeseen escalation tulad ngayon noong nagkaroon ng inflation, binigla nila ang escalation. So I can just imagine in the course of time, magse-self-liquidate. " Lacson explained. "Kasi kung nasa P300 million tayo a year, at 10% escalation, every year dagdag ng dagdag. So how many years mag-self- liquidate na wala nang binabayarang renta at nag-appreciate pa yung value na kung dumating ang time na magkaroon ng govt center sa labas ng Metro Manila at maisipan pati ang buong Congress ilipat doon, o magpalit ng form of govt na di kailangan na yng Senate building, pag binenta yan, kitang kita yung govt. Sa real estate  pa lang kita na, sa building kita pa rin."

"Kasi medyo short-sighted ang naghihirap, bakit tayo lilipat. Pero pag kinwenta mo yung since the time na nagkaroon ng Senado na upa ng upa ang Senado, palagay ko  yung maski inabot pa, halimbawa inabot ng P20B, palagay ko yung inupa ng Senate inupa ng govt para i-house yung mga senador and staff, palagay ko magiging sulit. ‘False economy’ ang itatawag  ko doon sa nagsasabing bakit kailangang lumipat tayo eh naghihirap yung tao," Lacson stressed.

He maintained the building is not a luxury.

"Hindi luho ito. Isa pa ito, pagka dumadalaw kami sa ibang parliaments, na-inspire kami sa British Parliament, yung Hungary, ito ang iconic, yung Capitol. Pag nakita  kasi mo sa postcard o  picture alam mo agad na US Congress yan, Budapest yan, o kaya Westminster. Pero ang PH nag-iisa yata sa buong mundo na  umuupa, squatter, palipat-lipat, galing na sa National Museum pa kung saan-saan, tapos ngayon  nasa GSIS umuupa. Paano ka mag-i-improve ng facilities kung di namansa iyo? Tayo rin di ba gusto natin maski papano pagka meron tayong pagkakataon gusto natin may sarili tayong bahay, hindi yung nangungupahan tayo habang buhay," Lacson said.

"Of course mahirap tayong bansa, pero hindi naman para maging dahilan yan parang habang buhay na lang tayong nangungupahan," he added.