Naga mayor blames Capitol for delay of jail's construction

CEBU, Philippines - Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong is blaming the provincial government for the delay in the construction of their city jail in Barangay Naalad.

The contractor hired by the Provincial Government to extract limestone in the jail site has reportedly stopped its work pending approval of its request to increase the price of per cubic meter of limestone it extracted.

Chiong said the contractor left the area prompting him to seek clarification from the Capitol.

Provincial Planning and Development Officer, Engr. Adolfo Quiroga, said he got an assurance from the Manila-based contractor, Supreme, to pursue its work within the week.

Quiroga told the contractor that their request is still pending before the Bids and Awards Committee.

The provincial government is paying the contractor the amount of P54 per cubic meter of limestone it extracted. But the contractor has pending request to increase the price.

The City of Naga offered its property for the Province of Cebu to extract limestone to be dumped in Balili property.

The property is the site of the Naga City Jail as soon as it is leveled and cleared by the contractor hired by the province.

Chiong said the Bureau of Jail and Management will be the one to construct the building on the lot provided by the city.

The mayor said they cannot pursue the construction unless the site becomes plain.

Chiong said the moment the contractor will not return to its work as they promised, he will ask the help of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

He wanted to have the new jail be constructed as soon as possible to immediately transfer the inmates from its present detention cell.

He said the present detention cell, which has only a capacity to house 50 inmates, is accommodating around a hundred. — (FREEMAN)