Alan Cayetano: New Senate Building now costs P31B in updated plan

The cost of the New Senate Building has already reached at least P31 billion based on the project’s Revised Detailed Architectural and Engineering Designs (R-DAEDS) which was only finalized last month, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said.

The NSB project's total cost could reach P33 billion if the land, furniture, commissioning and testing fees are considered.

In a press conference, Cayetano, chairman of the Senate committee on accounts, said that this was based on the letter from the Department of Public Works and Highways, the implementor of the NSB project.

The lawmaker said the new NSB cost considered the changes in plans, systems, systems in the designs, and inflation.

He emphasized that the DAED was only finalized last month, which he said, means the NSB had neither a set price nor final engineering and architectural plans.

The DPWH also informed Cayetano that the projected construction duration for Phase 3 of the building is now between 36 to 48 months, excluding aesthetic, interior fit-out works, and Building Electronics Systems, which the lawmaker tagged as "unacceptable."

“It’s only now that we have a timeline and overall project cost, but hindi acceptable ‘yung timeline na three to four years. And hindi rin acceptable kay Senate President ‘yung P31.6 billion na building cost or P33 billion na total project cost,” the senator said.

With this, Cayetano said the committee on accounts is looking into forming a new Senate Coordinating Team to streamline the internal processes and asked the DPWH to create a counterpart panel.

“We’re going to put up a new Senate coordinating committee kasi nga maraming, for lack of a better word, red tape, too many people, and too many levels. But we’re asking the DPWH to mirror ‘yung gagawin namin kasi paikot-ikot din sa iba’t ibang proseso nila,” he said.

The completion of the NSB was expected in January 2021, but now, Cayetano said, the target move in date is in late 2026.

In the last committee on accounts' hearing, the DPWH said that the NSB's cost could reach P27 billion.

Cayetano launched the inquiry into the matter after Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero ordered a review on the cost of the building, noting the funding for the construction has increased from P8.9 billion to P23 billion.

The inquiry is aimed to cut down the cost of the new home for the Senate. —RF, GMA Integrated News