City defends put up of Baguio youth convergence center
The local government clarified that there was no misuse in the P25 million that was downloaded to the city by the public works department for the construction of a multipurpose building at the Baguio Athletic Bowl and that there are no missing funds in such a case.
City Administrator Bonifacio dela Pena claimed that the construction of the multipurpose building under the menu of the public works department and the and the put up of the Baguio youth convergence center and indoor sports complex are actually the same.
He added that the source of fund of the P391 million for the said project is both from the public works department in the amount of P50 million and the local government amounting to more or less P341 million.
The city administrator stated that the P50 million fund from the public works department is covered by a memorandum of agreement between the agency and the local government where some P25 million was already downloaded to the city pursuant to the said agreement.
According to him, the scope of work of the fund from the agency include the construction of the foundation, the posts and the slab up to the second floor while the funds from the local government will cover the remaining works to complete the said structure making it the best indoor sports complex in the north in the future.
Dela Pena said that what is being questioned by the Commission on Audit (COA) is the P25 million from the public works department that was used to pay the accomplishment of the contractor for the works within the scope of work of the said funds but efforts are now being done to address the same as the contractor committed to complete the programmed works this month.
He explained that what is being required from the city is a joint certification signed by authorized individuals from the city and the public works department stating that the construction of the multipurpose building and the put up of the Baguio youth convergence center and indoor sports complex are the same.
However, he disclosed that on the part of the city, the certification was signed but on the part of the public works department, it was not signed because concerned officials are not allegedly authorized to do so.
Dela Pena revealed that concerned city officials signed the aforesaid required certification which was submitted to the COA for information, guidance and ready reference.
The local government department head expressed hope that the COA will consider the said certification considering that there was no fund that had been missing and that there was no misuse of the funds that were downloaded by the city to the public works department.
The local government will be providing the balance of the funds for the construction of the said center through a multi-year appropriation until it will be completed to be used by the athletes and sports enthusiasts not only from the city but also from neighboring communities. – Dexter A. See
