Pulangbato execs want SBD contract terminated

CEBU, Philippines — Officials of Barangay Pulangbato are urging the Cebu City Government to immediately terminate the contract with SBD Builders for the construction of a reinforced deck girder bridge at Sitio Candarong to Tanay Road due to a “significant negative slippage”.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, however, said during the regular session of the City Council on Wednesday that the contract had already been terminated as the actual implementation was not in accordance with the plans.

In a resolution, Barangay Pulangbato officials also called upon a declaration of state of emergency in the barangay due to the said unfinished project which allegedly forced the public to take unsafe alternative routes.

According to the barangay officials, SBD Builders has already incurred a negative slippage of 63.98%. The barangay officials are asking that the project should be given to a “reputable contractor with good standing” to finish it.

The council forwarded the resolution to the Department and Engineering and Public Works (DEPW). A separate resolution, however, was approved calling for an executive session to discuss the project more particularly on its implementation aspect.

Councilor Archival Sr. highlighted that the barangay resolution can be a ground to terminate the contract. According to him, when the SBD Builders appeared during the executive session, he assessed that among the reasons for termination was that “the plans were wrong”.

He called upon an executive session inviting the SBD Builders, officials of the Barangay Pulangbato, and DEPW officials who were behind the preparations of the Program of Works and Estimates (POWE), and the Cebu City Administrator.

Pesquera said the SBD Builders already confirmed the termination of the contract due to “several infirmities”. She added that the mode of the implementation of the project differed from the supposed actual civil works.

“So that’s why there is a necessity to have it terminated and then the DEPW have to revise their Programs of Works and Estimates and then as well as their mode of implementation and we will have it to rebid it,” said Pesquera.

Although the contract had been terminated, Archival still sees the need for an executive session to clarify some points. He pointed out that if the problem was the plan then the contractor should not be at fault.

Archival said that the disciplinary measures must be taken against the people behind the planning since the contractor is supposed to just follow the plan.

The P24-million project started on September 15, 2023 and was supposed to be completed on May 11, 2024.

According to the barangay officials, despite a time extension of 60 days to revise the project completion to September 30, 2024, the current work accomplishment of the contractor is only 36.02% resulting in a negative slippage of 63.98% and delays in project completion.

Due to the delays in completing the bridge, it forced vehicles to use “unsafe alternative and makeshift routes” which they added, posed a serious risk to the safety of the residents, commuters, and transport operators in Barangay Pulangbato.

“The continued use of these alternative routes increases the likelihood of accidents and exposes the community to hazardous conditions which necessitates urgent action to mitigate risk and restore safe transportation options,” the Barangay officials argued.  —/FPL (FREEMAN)