PASAY CITY/TAGUIG CITY – The cost of the new Senate building project could climb from P25 billion to P27 billion and senators and the citizens are concerned.

Already, the construction of the four Senate buildings along Pasong Tamo extension in Taguig City has been delayed for two years, 852 days to be exact, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.

At the latest Senate Committee on Accounts inquiry , the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) disclosed that the total estimated cost of the project was based on 2021 rates and does not reflect the present cost of materials.

Meanwhile, citing the need to maintain the public’s trust in the Senate as an institution, Sen. Robinhood “Robin” C. Padilla sought an investigation into the issues surrounding the increased costs in the construction of the New Senate Building (NSB).

Padilla filed Senate Resolution 1063 directing his Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media to handle the investigation in aid of legislation.

“Informing the public of the processes undertaken in the construction of the NSB including the increased costs, is necessary to ensure that the public does not lose its trust in the Senate as an institution,” he said.

“There is a need to let the public know of the partner contractors if any, and subcontractors of Hilmarc’s Construction Corp.,” he added.

Padilla noted that Senate President Francis Escudero had ordered Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as chairman of the Committee on Accounts to review the cost of the NSB, as it had reportedly increased to P23 billion from an initial P8.9 billion.

He added the Committee on Accounts, in its public hearing last July 3, reported that the current total cost of the project is P23.38 billion, of which P8.9 billion is for the core and shell; P2.5 billion for the fit-out; P1.6 billion for land acquisition; and P10.33 billion for works to complete.

Padilla noted Sec. 1, Art. XI of the 1987 Constitution states that “public office is a public trust,” and public officers and employees must at all times remain “accountable to the people.”

“Being part of one of the main branches of the government, it is incumbent upon the Senate to set the example of transparency and accountability not only to the entire bureaucracy but more importantly, to the Filipino people,” he added.

“Iyong sinubmit namin na ‘yon, aaminin namin na ‘yon po ay hindi updated. So, sa term niyo pwede nating i-update ‘yon (The one that we submitted, we will admit it, was not updated. However, we can update that under your term),” DPWH Buildings and Special Projects Management Cluster project director Soledad Florencio told Senate Committee Chairperson Alan Peter Cayetano.

Florencio did not provide an estimate but former DPWH Undersecretary Antonio Molano Jr. said the updated construction inflation rate could reach at least 20 percent to 25 percent.

“To my estimate, from the time the project was bid out, more or less 20 to 25 percent,” he said.

“Aabutin ng 25 (billion) to 27 (billion), including the cost of land, plus iyong inflationary cost kasama na po (It could reach P25 [billion] to P27 [billion], including the cost of land plus the inflationary cost).”

The current cost of the project totals P23.37 billion, at least P8.9 billion of which was for the building’s core and shell, P2.5 billion for the fit-out, P10.33 billion for the works to complete, and P1.6 billion for the land acquisition.

In the latest hearing, a heated exchange ensued between Cayetano and Senator Nancy Binay over the total construction cost, with the latter arguing that the amount was only P21.73 billion, excluding the land.

At the July 10 inquiry, Senator Francis Tolentino quipped, “So, we’re now talking of a figure higher than the previously disagreed upon figure between P21 to P23 (billion).” Binay did not attend.

Cayetano, at the start, apologized to the public, saying the argument between him and Binay was an issue they would deal with later.

“We just all have to remind ourselves: eyes on the ball. What is the ball? Simple lang, paano matapos ‘yong project na to (It’s simple – how to finish this project),” he said.

Meanwhile, he instructed the DPWH to recompute the cost based on current market prices and create an efficient workflow organizational chart that maintains high construction standards.