Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday said the total construction cost of the new Senate building has gone up to P33.07 billion.
The cost to complete the construction of the building was previously pegged at P23 billion.
Cayetano also said it will take the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) 36 to 48 months, or three to four years, to finish.
He called as “unacceptable” the new amount and timeline, which he said was submitted by the DPWH.
In a press conference, Cayetano urged the DPWH to take a “second look” at the new projections.
He said the 48 months approximate to finish the project is like constructing a new building from scratch.
“It’s only now that we have a timeline and overall project cost, but hindi acceptable ‘yung timeline na three to four years. And hindi rin acceptable kay Senate President ‘yung P31.6 billion na building cost or P33 billion na total project cost (but the timelime of three to four years is unacceptable. The building cost of P31.6 billion, or the total project cost of P33 billion, is also unacceptable),” he also said.
Cayetano said the DPWH sent Senate President Francis Escudero a letter dated September 17 stating the new cost and timeline to finish the building.
He said the construction of the building would cost more than P31.67 billion, but the total project cost would reach more than P33.07 billion, including the cost of the lot and other fixtures, aesthetic designs, and security features.
Cayetano said his committee is working on forming a “new” Senate Coordinating Team (SCT) to streamline internal processes and has asked the DPWH to do the same.
“We’re going to put up a new Senate coordinating committee kasi nga maraming, for lack of a better word, red tape, too many people, and too many levels. But we’re asking the DPWH to mirror ‘yung gagawin namin kasi paikot-ikot din sa iba’t-ibang proseso nila (We are going to create a new Senate coordinating team because, for lack of a better word, of red tape – there are too many people and too many levels. We’re asking the DPWH to mirror what we will do because their system has given us many run arounds because it is different),” he said.
Cayetano said the main goal is to bring down the cost significantly without compromising quality and safety.
