Vice Guv wants WT to do superstructure of CICC

Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez wants that the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) superstructure be awarded to WT Construction Incorporated if it does not have problems in the construction of the substructure.

This is to offset any delays in the completion of the CICC by the first week of November, a month ahead of the 12th Association of Southeast Nations Summit in December.

Sanchez said it is advantageous to Capitol if the CICC's two phases would be done by the same contractor for a "smooth flow" in the implementation of the project.

Sanchez said under Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act, the government is allowed to tap the services of the same contractor to finish contiguous projects if it does not incur negative slippage in its previous project to which it was contracted.

"If the construction of the superstructure will be awarded to the same contractor, then it can be done simultaneously. While doing the substructure, the contractor can start preparing for the substructure," Sanchez said.

He said there should be close monitoring to the ongoing works at the CICC site in the Mandaue Reclamation Area.

The vice governor added that evaluation of the works already accomplished by the WT Construction should start next week. WT Construction won the contract to do the substructure of the CICC, quoting the lowest at P84.5 million.

If 66 percent of the substructure has been completed already and if the contractor was able to achieve the target, Sanchez said the awarding of the superstructure contract to the same contractor will be justified.

He said Capitol might be able to tolerate at least a week delay in the construction of the substructure. But WT was able to put up 800 piles last week, which makes it ahead of schedule for at least two weeks.

Capitol appropriated P250 million and P100 million for the construction of the substructure and superstructure of the CICC. - Cristina C. Birondo