We were able to interview Kabataan Partylist Representative Terry Ridon on our show Kasangga Mo Ang Langit on DWIZ 882khz regarding his recent bid to investigate the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center. It has recently come to light that the convention center and the controversial Makati City Hall 2 Building employed the same contractor: Hilmarc’s Construction Corp.
“This puts into question not only the standards used for the Iloilo Convention Center, but for all the government projects undertaken by Hilmarc’s,” Cong. Ridon said.
According to the research of Cong. Ridon’s team, Hilmarc was the contractor for the Bacolod National Government Center, Iloilo Provincial Capitol, Abra Hospital, and other projects in Quezon City and Valenzuela.
AVERAGE COST
On the average, Senate President Franklin Drilon said the convention center cost 65,000 per square meter. However, given Hilmarc’s involvement in the Makati Building investigation, this amount became questionable.
“Our research showed that on the average, local government units (LGU) spend 30,000-35,000 per square meter for construction projects such as these. So we wondered why the cost that was given to Sen. Drilon was twice that amount,” Cong. Ridon said.
Given that Hilmarc’s seems to be the favorite contractor of government officials, the numbers presented must then be investigated in the same way as the Makati Parking Building is.
SIMILAR TO PDAF AND DAP
The matter is especially important now since during the time that the PDAF was still in place, the congressmen and senators had the power to use a post-enactment intervention in favor of the contractors they are partial to. Given how the Iloilo Convention Center was constructed during that time, it is important that it be cleared of such a shadow through a thorough inquiry into its construction.
Given the number of projects that Hilmarc’s won and constructed, it seems that it is indeed the favored construction company of the biggest politicians in the country and of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
PARLIAMENTARY COURTESY
Cong. Ridon, however, clarified that they would only be inviting the Senate President to the proposed hearing and would not compel him to go.
“He can send a representative who can answer our questions since the true subjects of this inquiry are Hilmarc’s and DPWH. His fellow senators Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Sen. JV Ejercito have expressed their desire to look into this as well, anyway,” he said.
BULLYING?
Cong. Ridon also expressed his dismay at his being allegedly bullied by the Senate President when he repeatedly said the following phrase to his colleagues at a recent event they were both attending:
“Jesus Christ, why do you keep insulting me?”
However, the congressman stated that the inquiry he launched shouldn’t be taken as an attack on Sen. Drilon but rather as an inquiry in the interest of public service.
WILDFIRE
What started as a seemingly one-time inquiry into the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2 has started a whole barrage of inquiries into the execution of government projects. Now the question that looms over them all is, did they all adhere to the same standard of alleged overpricing?
The investigations, as the saying goes, are “spreading like wildfire.” Given the uncontrollable nature of these inquiries, only time can tell who will be hit, what will be found out, and who will emerge as collateral damages.
QUOTABLE QUOTES
“Playing with fire is bad for those who burn themselves. For the rest of us, it is a very great pleasure.” — Author Unknown
“Fire in the heart sends smoke into the head.” — Proverb
Photo credit: VK