Sep 122014
 
Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Koko Pimentel III conduct an ocular inspection of the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II on Monday, September 1. (MNS photo)

Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Koko Pimentel III conduct an ocular inspection of the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II on Monday, September 1. (MNS photo)

MANILA (Mabuhay) –Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to put Hilmarc’s Construction Corporation, general contractor of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall building II project, on provisional blacklist for its supposed irregular practices.

During the continuation of the hearing of the blue ribbon committee on the alleged overpricing, Trillanes also asked the Commission on Audit (COA) to withhold further payments to the construction company until the issue on the Makati City Hall building II is resolved.

Very unsound yung ginagawa nila. They will build a foundation [pero] hindi alam kung gaano kataas yung itatayong building. That is what you get, Hilmarcs. Kung hindi nyo sinisilip yung plano ng gagawin nyo, hindi dapat makakakuha ng proyekto ang Hilmarc’s and for COA to tignan muna, i-notify bago bayaran,” he said.

Engr. Efren Canlas, chairman of the board and incorporation of Hilmarc’s, admitted during the hearing that they had yet to see the entire plan or design of the controversial building when they joined the bidding for its construction. He said what they saw was only the “scope of work.”

For the record po, when you bidded for Phase 1 [of the construction], wala kayong nakitang final look ng building na gagawin nyo? Na ginagawan nyo ng foundation for? You knew it was a building, ang itsura ng building, ang final look ng building, wala kayong planong nakatayo before you bidded for phase 1?” asked Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, who presided over the hearing.

Ang nakita lang namin ay plano kung saan ang scope of work. Nakatuon lang sa plano,” said Canlas.

Asked by Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano if he didn’t find this unusual, Canlas said, “Hindi po, dahil ang scope namin structural work lang po.”

Canlas said the company only worked for the part of the building indicated in the scope of work given to them by the city government.

Cayetano then said what Canlas was saying was ridiculous and illegal. He then grilled Canlas on the building permit his company submitted to the city hall for the construction of the building.

Cayetano said based on the building permit signed by Canlas, the city hall building II will be a 10-storey structure. However, the company official admitted he didn’t know this. (MNS)

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