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PRESIDENT Arroyo had approved the P200-million funding
for the facelifting of the Batasan Complex main building
and adjacent structures, a document released by the
House secretary-general showed.
The
three-page “briefer” on the rehabilitation of the
structures—amid criticisms from several legislators
about the House leadership’s insensitivity by
prioritizing face-lifting at a time when the country is
facing national food and oil crises—also said that since
financial resources of the House cannot fully support
the rehabilitation program, “other funding sources have
to be tapped.”
The
Office of the Secretary General (OSG) also reported that
Speaker Prospero Nograles requested the assistance of
President Arroyo as early as March this year, but the
formal letter request was transmitted to Mrs. Arroyo
only in May. Later, Mrs. Arroyo approved P200 million
for the project.
On
Wednesday Nograles said the project had long been
approved, way before the oil-food crises erupted, and
that as far as he knows, it would not cost as much as
P200 million—very likely, only P70 million.
Party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna, learning
of the briefers’ contents, asked aloud on Thursday about
the implications of Mrs. Arroyo’s approving the budget
for renovation: “Will her allies also beautify her
image? What is expected in exchange for GMA’s
approval?”
In a
telephone conversation, Casiño said the renovation only
shows the “extravagance” of the House leadership.
“Another problem is the architectural integrity. If you
look at it, although it is not yet completed, it already
looks like a shopping mall. As if everything is for
sale.”
In
mentioning the P70-million budget earlier, Nograles was
possibly referring just to the first phase of the
project which is mentioned in the OSG document. It is
expected to be completed before the opening of the
second regular session of the 14th Congress.
Relatedly, Liberal Party Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon of
Muntinlupa said many House members are not aware of the
renovation and assailed Nograles for allegedly being not
transparent about the project.
In a
news forum in Quezon City on Thursday, Biazon said he
and other members of the House only learned of the
renovation on Monday when they attended the committee
hearing conducted on the June 21 sinking
of Sulpicio Lines’ MV Princess of the Stars at the
height of Typhoon Frank. “Speaker Nograles should have
been transparent on the renovation.”
The
first phase of the project, according to the OSG, covers
repair and repainting of the main building roof, repair
of gutters and water-proofing, replacement of downspouts
and rehabilitation of the drainage system, retiling of
main building exterior lobby, enhancement and painting
of main building interior lobby, improvement of media
center, cladding of main building entrances and parapets
(front and rear), cladding of North and South Wing
exteriors, repairs and rehabilitation of the North Wing
lobby, stone finishing of front and rear facades and
sidings of main building.
Also in
the program is the repair of glass windows,
rehabilitation of toilets at the lobbies of South and
North Wings, first and second floors, renovation of
kitchen of South Lounge, rehabilitation of exterior
electrical fixtures and provision of building
floodlights, widening of rear car park areas, repair and
painting of helipad and repair and rehabilitation of the
old multipurpose gym to house the medical services of
the House. |
