P3.1-B ‘lump sum’ items found in Phase 1 of new Senate building

The first phase of the soon-to-rise Senate building in Taguig City has over 50 lump sum items amounting to P3.1 billion, according to GMA Integrated News Research. 

In Ian Cruz’s report on “24 Oras” Friday, the P8.067 billion contract for the project’s Phase 1 was signed in 2019 by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Emil Sadain and Hilmarc’s Construction Corporation vice president for operations Raymund Dalangin. 

Of the P8.067 billion contract, P7.516 billion was allotted for the civil, mechanical, electrical, and sanitary/plumbing works; P30.6 million for engineers’ facilities; and P519.8 million for other general requirements. 

But based on further findings by the GMA Integrated News Research, there were 58 lump sum items in the contract. 

Of the P3.1 billion worth of lump sum items, the largest amount is P894 million for aluminum glass windows. 

However, there was also no indicated breakdown of allocations for support equipment, automatic fire sprinkler system, metal accessories, and bulbs and pipes fittings. 

According to the study conducted by the Senate Committee on Accounts, the report said that the cost of the Phase 1 has already reached P8.9 billion due to variation orders, or changes during the construction of the building.

Meanwhile, the Phase 2 of the project, which is meant for the construction of the interiors, was also awarded to Hilmarc’s through a negotiated procurement. The contract for the second phase costs P2.375 billion, the report said. 

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the DPWH and Hilmarc’s for comment.—Vince Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News