DPWH: Approved revisions blew up New Senate Building budget

The Department of Public Works and Highways said several variations to the initial plan for the New Senate Building were what caused an increase in its projected cost.

According to a 24 Oras report by Ian Cruz on Thursday, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano raised his concerns as to why the DPWH was allowed to revise the building plans and change the budget from the initial P833 million.

The DPWH replied that the New Senate Building had five different variation orders worth P549 million and was approved by former chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Accounts, former senator Panfilo Lacson and Senator Nancy Binay.

“May mga pagbabago po 'yun sa kanilang mga design. Like for example po sa isang palapag dati nakalagay tatlong room lang, ginagawa po ngayon naging anim na po siya. Dahil sa pagka-revise na 'yon, pagkadagag ng rooms na 'yon, kailangan po nating baguhin ang design para sa integrity ng buong building. Kailangan din po doon ang additional na mga airconditioning [units] so nagkaroon po yun ng mga dagdag na ducting sa ceiling. Dagdag na cost po 'yun ng project,” said DPWH Project Director Engineer Soledad Florencio.

(There were changes made to the design. Like for example, one floor used to have three rooms but was now changed to six rooms. Because of that revision, the addition of those rooms, we had to change the design for the integrity of the whole building. There was also a need for additional airconditioning [units] so there was ducting added to the ceiling. That was an additional cost to the project.)

In his review, Senator Cayetano also said delays were caused by materials being bought before they was needed, while other materials in immediate need were not yet purchased.

He added that the DPWH was taking too long to process documents pertinent to the construction.

“[Sa materyales,] hindi ko masasagot, dahil nandoon lang po kami sa kung ano po ang dineliber na materyales yan lang po ang gagamitin ng contractor. For now po, wala po akong alam sa ganyang issue,” said Florencio.

([On the materials,] I can’t answer that because we only stand by whatever materials are delivered to us would be what the contractors would be using. For now, I don’t know anything on this issue)

“Eighteen volumes ng ganitong kakapal [ang documents]. Papaano po ire-review ng DPWH kaagad-agad ang ganitong kadaming dokumento? Ang DPWH po kailangan talagang i-review thoroughly, most especially sa ganyang kalaking proyekto po. Ang Senate Building po, hindi po siya basta basta proyekto, kundi isa po siyang malaking proyekto,” she added.

([The documents] are eighteen thick volumes. How would the DPWH review this many documents right away? The DPWH needs to review it thoroughly, most especially in a project as big as this. The Senate Building is not just any project, it’s a big project.)

Senate President Chiz Escudero has ordered a review of the construction costs. Cayetano said this would be vital into deciding whether to continue the project with the DPWH and contractor Hilmarc’s Construction.

However, he said that the construction on the project will continue.

“Kung ano po ang makikita nilang poor workmanship ng contractor, yan po ay kanila pong iko-correct with the approval ng DPWH. Hindi po nag-a-accept ang DPWH ng poor workmanship ng mga contractor. Kailangan po naayon sya sa plans and specifications na approved ng DPWH,” Florencio said.

(Whatever poor workmanship they see from the contractor, they will correct it with the approval of the DPWH. The DPWH does not accept poor workmanship from contractors. They have to adhere to the plans and specifications approved by DPWH)

GMA Integrated News has reached out to Hilmarc’s Construction, as well as to Binay and Lacson, for comment. — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/BM, GMA Integrated News