Electrical wires delay Unit 2 reconstruction

The contractor for the reconstruction of Unit 2 in Carbon Market cannot yet start the project because it has not yet completed clearing the area of electrical wires.

City administrator Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez said that their contractor, W.T. Construction, is still conducting clearing operations. 

Last September squatters who occupied the area were evicted to give way to the reconstruction.

However, the contractor cannot yet start the project because they still have to clear the area of electrical wires of the Visayan Electric Company.

Fernandez yesterday said that they have already requested VECO to transfer the wires.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña also said last week that he wanted to know the development of the reconstruction of the burnt building.

Recently, Cebu Market Vendors Cooperative president and Ermita councilman Erwin Gok-ong asked why until now the project has not yet started even if the contractor started its clearing operation two months ago.

He said one of the reasons he ran as councilman was to lobby with the barangay and the City Hall to fast track the project.

“Gisugdan naman ang project pero sige pa ang clearing operations. Di man gyud na madali-dali kay daghan pa man mga wires nga tangtangunon,” Fernandez said.

The city has contracted the services of W.T. Construction for the reconstruction of the Unit 2 in 2004 with a contract price of P134,500,000.

The City Engineer’s Office earlier explained that the project has not started immediately also because of existing problems with Young Builders Inc., the former contractor of the project.

The civil works on the market’s reconstruction was delayed after Young Builders built a fence and refused to allow entry to the area until the city pays it an additional P6 million.

Young Builders was awarded the P22-million contract by the previous administration to rebuild Unit 2, which was destroyed by a fire in 1998.  But when Osmeña later assumed office, he decided to have a P135-million ramp built to decongest traffic in the area.

Last September, the city was finally able to rid the area of the illegal occupants and Young Builders after Mayor Tomas Osmeña gave an order to start clearing the area for the project.  – Wenna A. Berondo/BRP