Cebu City Council asks COA to look into 2 infra projects

Local

THE Cebu City Council is requesting an audit from the Commission on Audit (COA) for two troubled infrastructure projects in the city–the rehabilitation of the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) track oval and the reinforced deck girder bridge in Barangay Pulangbato.

At the council’s regular session, Councilor Rey Gealon presented three resolutions to address these issues.

The resolutions call for COA to audit the progress of the projects and provide guidance on how the city should move forward with the CCSC track oval rehabilitation.

Gealon also called on Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia to collaborate with COA in conducting fraud risk assessments for City Hall’s multi-million projects valued at P50 million or more.

SBD Builders rehabilitated the CCSC track oval with a P52-million contract to prepare for Cebu City’s hosting of the Palarong Pambansa in July.

The project involved replacing the rubberized surface, which had last been upgraded in 2012. Despite the efforts, significant issues surfaced days before the event's opening on July 9.

The newly refurbished track oval developed damages, and measurement errors were discovered, with the 400-meter track falling short by 0.88 meters on average. These discrepancies led to the nullification of 11 record-breaking performances during the national sporting event.

SBD Builders’ Shaun Doherty attributed the errors to a consultant from the Department of Education who handled the measurements. He clarified that the contractor only renovated the existing track, which was built in 1994.

Following the Palarong Pambansa, the CCSC track reopened to the public on July 23 but was shut down again on November 13 to address the damages. Repairs are ongoing and are expected to finish before the Sinulog festival in January 2025.

Payment for the project remains withheld until the contractor resolves the issues.

Gealon also called for an audit of SBD Builders' work on the P24-million Pulangbato bridge project. The bridge, which connects the barangay to the main highway over the Butuanon River, is critical for residents traveling to downtown Cebu City.

Originally scheduled for completion last May 11, the project had been delayed despite a 60-day extension granted by City Hall. As of September 30, it was only 36 percent complete, resulting in a negative slippage of 64 percent.

The city terminated the contractor's involvement, with the Department of Engineering and Public Works declining to extend the agreement.

The Pulangbato Barangay Council issued a resolution on October 7 urging the City Council to declare a state of emergency, citing safety risks from the incomplete bridge. The delay has forced residents and motorists to use makeshift, unsafe alternative routes.

The council’s resolution stressed the need for fraud risk assessments to mitigate future delays and ensure transparency. The measure aims to identify, analyze, and reduce fraud risks from the procurement phase to project implementation.

Gealon underscored the importance of COA audits in verifying that public funds are used properly. He emphasized that assessing contractors’ adherence to proposed plans ensures legitimate implementation of high-value city projects.(MyTVCebu)