Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy is determined to improve the systems, procedures, and capacities of the city government to implement development projects.
The City Council committees on public works, finance, and administration are jointly investigating in the exercise of its oversight functions the implementation of projects funded by the city’s development fund after the COA report made observations on 126 projects. Of this, it inspected and found 37 projects which started way back in 2018 up to 2022 but remains unfinished as of Dec. 31, 2022.
“Atong tubagon kanang mga COA observations, ug paningkamotan nga mahuman kanang mga proyekto nga nasugdan sa mi-aging adminstrasyon,” (We will answer the COA observation, and would strive to finish all the projects started in the previous administration.) Mayor Klarex Uy said.
Councilor John Michael Seno, chairperson of the committee on public works, speaking after the opening of the city council investigation last Wednesday, however, said that 18 of the 37 projects flagged by state auditors have already been completed todate. The COA report being deliberated was for January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. It however backtracked and reviewed projects started way back in 2018.
Quarantine restrictions during the Covid 19 pandemic, which ran from March 2020 to May 2022 and inclement weather have been cited as among the reasons for the delays in the implementation of the projects.
Also, in Wednesday’s hearing, attended by Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez and Majority Floor Leader Edgardo Cabanlas, along with members of the public works, and finance and appropriation committees rectified the report that three of the 37 projects questioned by state auditors have not broken ground despite the payment of the 15% mobilization fund.
Seno explained that the audit observations may have a monitoring report from the City Engineering Office. The councilor said they will conduct project inspections next week.
Acting City Engineer Joel Momongan said the contractor in the three projects had mobilized but has not yet received the 15% mobilization fund. The City Accounting office had confirmed in last Wednesday’s hearing that City Hall had not released funds for these questioned projects.
It is a common practice among contractors to start mobilizing for projects upon receipt of their Notice of Award and Notice to Proceed and bill the government based on the progress of their work.
Meanwhile, Momongan, who had just taken the helm of the engineering office two weeks ago, said that he is focusing on improving the capabilities of the CEO to plan, monitor and evaluate projects.
He also held a dialogue with contractors to come up with win-win solutions to issues and concerns in the implementation of projects.
In the management committee meeting two weeks ago, Mayor Uy said that City Hall would hire more engineers, architects, and other personnel, to cope with the increasing demand for work at the engineering office. The CEO currently has two project engineers and 12 resident engineers.
Momongan said that an engineer in his office handles 20 to 40 projects each. “With that volume of work, it is difficult, if not impossible, for them to be efficient,” said Momongan. The CEO, he said, would be hiring more engineers and other personnel.
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