By MAE SINGUAY
BACOLOD City — There was no overpricing in the construction of the city hall building here, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).
In a decision dated Aug. 28, 2014, COA central office lifted the notice of disallowance on the construction and site development of the Bacolod Government Center, now the People’s House.
In 2008, the COA–Bacolod issued the notice to city government officials led by then Mayor Evelio Leonardia over the alleged overpricing of the city hall construction.
The COA central office, in its recent ruling, said the P364,831,456.52 project cost was within the allowable 10-percent variance.
It said the use of the “design and building scheme” for the project prevented the reversion of the 5-hectare land back to its donors.
Also, Hilmarc’s Construction Corp., project contractor, gave the city government a P4-million discount and upgraded portions of the project in the amount of P7,321,426.46 at no extra cost, according to the COA.
COA central office has formed a special audit team in 2008 to determine the “reasonableness” of the project construction cost.
Its recent ruling, signed by COA chair Ma. Gracia Pulido–Tan and commissioners Heidi Mendoza and Jose Fabia, coincided with an Office of the Ombudsman decision that said there was “nothing anomalous in the construction of the (Bacolod Government Center).”
The Ombudsman has also dismissed 12 criminal and administrative cases filed against Leonardia and other former city officials related to the city hall building construction.
“With both the Ombudsman and the COA ruling in favor of the (Bacolod Government Center) project … what more is there to ask?” Leonardia said./PN
