DPWH says Senate approved variations to new Senate building
ADVERTISEMENT
Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!
DPWH says Senate approved variations to new Senate building
MANILA — The Department of Public Works and Highways on Friday said the Senate approved several variations to the initial plan of the controversial new Senate building.
MANILA — The Department of Public Works and Highways on Friday said the Senate approved several variations to the initial plan of the controversial new Senate building.
The statement comes after Senator Alan Peter Cayetano questioned why the DPWH allowed many “variations, deviations, and modification made to the project in various stages for various reasons that has yet to be validated,” which led to the ballooning of costs of the project.
The statement comes after Senator Alan Peter Cayetano questioned why the DPWH allowed many “variations, deviations, and modification made to the project in various stages for various reasons that has yet to be validated,” which led to the ballooning of costs of the project.
“Ang variation order is actually a big process. The variation order has to go through a process with the Senate supervision committee nila. In fact the funds are not really transferred to the Department, it is kept with the Senate. So anytime we submit a bid, a dealing to them, they have to scrutinize it, and then once they are satisfied with the documentation ibibigay nila sa amin ang amount to pay the contractor,” DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said in an interview.
“Ang variation order is actually a big process. The variation order has to go through a process with the Senate supervision committee nila. In fact the funds are not really transferred to the Department, it is kept with the Senate. So anytime we submit a bid, a dealing to them, they have to scrutinize it, and then once they are satisfied with the documentation ibibigay nila sa amin ang amount to pay the contractor,” DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said in an interview.
“It is a joint decision, emanates initially with the Senate committee. It is a joint undertaking, sila ang approving body for 'yung mga variations,” he continued.
“It is a joint decision, emanates initially with the Senate committee. It is a joint undertaking, sila ang approving body for 'yung mga variations,” he continued.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bonoan said DPWH merely implements the specifications given by the Senate.
Bonoan said DPWH merely implements the specifications given by the Senate.
“We are just the implementing unit of the Senate. Whichever specifications that they want us to implement, then we implement it. So sila ang may say,” he said.
“We are just the implementing unit of the Senate. Whichever specifications that they want us to implement, then we implement it. So sila ang may say,” he said.
Senate President Francis Escudero earlier said he was shocked by the cost of the new Senate building in Taguig's financial district, from the original P8.9 billion to P23 billion.
Senate President Francis Escudero earlier said he was shocked by the cost of the new Senate building in Taguig's financial district, from the original P8.9 billion to P23 billion.
Construction of the new Senate building in BGC began under the term of then-Senate President Vicente Sotto III and was continued by his successor, former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Construction of the new Senate building in BGC began under the term of then-Senate President Vicente Sotto III and was continued by his successor, former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.
“Nakakagulat at masama sa panlasa na gagastos nang ganito kalaki ang Senado para sa aming magiging bagong tahanan at opisina at sa dami ng pinapapapirmahan sa akin na bayarin nais kong tingnan muna at suriin ito nang husto kung talaga bang nararapat, angkop at kung paano ito mapababa," Escudero said during an ambush interview.
“Nakakagulat at masama sa panlasa na gagastos nang ganito kalaki ang Senado para sa aming magiging bagong tahanan at opisina at sa dami ng pinapapapirmahan sa akin na bayarin nais kong tingnan muna at suriin ito nang husto kung talaga bang nararapat, angkop at kung paano ito mapababa," Escudero said during an ambush interview.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said he adopted Cayetano's recommendation to delay payments pending review as they seek to lower the costs.
He said he adopted Cayetano's recommendation to delay payments pending review as they seek to lower the costs.
The DPWH hopes to have the Senate building to be operational by next year despite delays, Bonoan said.
The DPWH hopes to have the Senate building to be operational by next year despite delays, Bonoan said.
“We were trying to have it initially operational sana this year, but unfortunately because of the Phase 2 program, 'yung mga additional facilities inside hindi makahabol. We will try again next year siguro,” he said.
“We were trying to have it initially operational sana this year, but unfortunately because of the Phase 2 program, 'yung mga additional facilities inside hindi makahabol. We will try again next year siguro,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
