By Nora Soriño
ILIGAN City -- After all was said and done, although there is still a lot to be said and done, the ambitious P590- or P583-million “modern market” at Palao had its groundbreaking. This was on the 20th of last month, February.
Now, the area is fenced throughout by what else but blood-red, this LGU’s color. Detractors are in the nitpicking mode. Like where did that heavy equipment inside the area come from? Did they really come from Tacloban City where the contractor BM Marketing’s address is? They were not aware of several heavy that were unloaded at the pier here. Or that there was a “motorcade” of heavy equipment that paraded through the city and settled at the market area at Palao.
But whether that equipment came from Tacloban City or this city is irrelevant now at this time.
Yet some sectors are expressing doubts regarding the contractor itself, BM Marketing, the winning bidder. For there was a news report in a national broadsheet of some contract in Cebu City in which it used the address of another company, known as Black Mountain. And it questioned its track record, too.
Then we hear of another case with the Office of the Ombudsman regarding again this contractor which came out in another issue of the same broadsheet which is very recent. As recent as Feb. 24, 2020. An anonymous complaint was lodged at the ombudsman because of “confusing” documents regarding its existence. Because there is another company called BMCMI whose address and documents are also being used by BM Marketing. It also has the DPWH as among the objects of its complaints.
Both DPWH and BM Marketing though were able to get preliminary injunctions from the ombudsman, the report said.
And, BM is not among the contractors that are blacklisted.
Yet we can’t help raise questions on the validity of these contracts. Why these cases? And these questions are being posted on FB even as they are being questioned too on-air, although only in a superficial manner. After all, there really was a bidding conducted here in this city. So, let’s forget about all the other things like the “approval” of a basement parking until it was changed due to... ah, nevermind, that’s water under the bridge now.
Councilor Noli Pardillo said things like these have detractors. That cannot be helped. He said this will be monitored and work on this will be 24/7 so that it will really be finished in 18 months beginning Feb. 25.
Ramsky, a friend commented: “There’s no construction work there yet, I saw.”
Was I surprised by his comment? I said, “There are lights inside the enclosed area. Meaning, there’s really construction work inside.”
“That is because they don’t want the backhoe and other equipment stolen!”
“Yeah?” An incredulous me exclaimed.
It’s still early to be judgmental. And anyway, there’s a joke that goes this way: “Don’t judge a book by its cover because you are not a judge.”
Anyway, let’s give city hall the benefit of the doubt. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this really will be finished, this P583-million market. After all, there’s a great difference between P583 million and zero.
Let’s hope that this really is a work “in progress” not a “work in retrogress.”
