Senate cannot afford delays in new building construction —Nancy Binay

The Senate cannot afford further delays in constructing its new building in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City as this might entail additional costs, Senator Nancy Binay said Monday.

The lawmaker issued the statement the same day Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero ordered the suspension and the review of the construction of the new Senate building as he expressed concerns over the increased budget for the project from P8.9 billion to P23 billion.

"I understand that the Senate President meant well in reviewing the budget for New Senate Building--pero sana madaliin nila ang review. We want to avoid any unneccesary expense brought by the delay," Binay, who monitored the construction progress as the former chairperson of the committee on accounts, said.

"There is a sense of urgency to complete the construction by 2025. Delays would mean cost adjustments, additional charges, penalties, and another round of rental. The Senate cannot afford any set back because each day of delay has cost implications--I agree with SP that we need to look for ways to bring the costs down," she added.

Binay said she was also "surprised" about the information that reached Escudero and stressed that the new Senate president could have known more "factual information" about the construction if he had asked beforehand.

"Sa totoo lang, nagulat din ako kung saan nanggagaling ang info ni SP Escudero with regard the New Senate Building. Sadly, kung noong una pa man sana ay nagkaroon ng time si SP na magtanong at alamin ang tungkol sa construction developments, sana'y mas naliwanagan siya at nakapagbigay s'ya ng inputs at suggestions kung paano mas makakatipid at 'di maantala ang paglipat ng Senado sa bagong gusali," she quipped.

(I was also surprised where SP Escudero's information about the New Senate Building is coming from. Sadly, if he had time to ask and find out the developments on the construction, he would have gotten a clearer explanation about his concerns and he could have given inputs and suggestions on how we can save more, and so that the transfer to the new building won't be delayed.)  

Binay noted that in 2019 or when the project was initiatied, Escudero was an incumbent senator, saying that she believes "he has been made aware of the project costs."

"In February 2019, Sen. Panfilo Lacson made it clear on the floor that the approved Multi-year Obligation Authority (MYOA) for the NSB is P8.9B which covers the 'core and shell' of the four-tower NSB--and the interior and fit-OTS (off-the-shelf) are entirely separate," she said.

She also addressed Escudero's concern over the lack of parking in the new building, saying it has a three-level basement dedicated for vehicles.

"Fake news po 'yung walang parking (It's fake news)," she said.

Binay likewise pointed out that during her term as the accounts committee chairperson, all senators are invited for ocular inspections and one-on-one briefings about the progress, status, timelines, and other matters regarding the new Senate building.

"Kung sana ay nakapag-usap kami ni SP, mas malinaw at factual info ang maibibigay ko, kaysa umasa s'ya sa mga marites at mga bubuyog na bumubulong-bulong," she said.

"Naghihintay po lamang ako na ako'y ipatawag. If there are questions and some clarifications, or things that need to be verified or validated, or to check if some information are indeed factual or simply intended to sow misinformation and spread falsehoods--I am just a call or text away," she added.

(If SP only talked to me, I could have given him clear and factual info on the matter, instead of relying on the gossipers and the bees who whisper different information on the construction. I am just waiting for them to call me.  If there are questions and some clarifications, or things that need to be verified or validated, or to check if some information are indeed factual or simply intended to sow misinformation and spread falsehoods--I am just a call or text away.)

In a statement, Escudero said he arrived at the decision after receiving a detailed report and recommendations from Cayetano last Friday on the "escalating costs, quality issues, and management inefficiencies" surrounding the New Senate Building project.

In a separate text message to reporters, Lacson explained that the  "new" total cost of P23.3 billion includes the expenses for land acquisition, which was valued during their time at P1.62 billion at P90,000 per square meter.

The land value, he said, "has since tremendously appreciated in value."

While he is uncertain of the exact amount, Lacson said the current real estate value in that area is P500,000 per square meter.—LDF, GMA Integrated News