00:00In his review of the cost of the new Senate building,
00:05Senate Committee on Accounts Chair Alan Peter Cayetano
00:10nominated the Department of Public Works and Highways for the project.
00:14He also considered continuing phase 3 of the new Senate building
00:19which is worth more than 10 billion pesos.
00:22This is what Mark Salazar pointed out.
00:24While the Senate is reviewing the cost of the new building,
00:34Senate Committee on Accounts Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano
00:39said that the work will continue in phase 1 and phase 2 of the project.
00:43This is the construction of the new building
00:47which is worth 8.9 billion pesos
00:50and the so-called fit-out or interior of 2.5 billion pesos.
00:55The construction that we are reviewing can continue, there is no conflict with that.
01:00But they still have a question on phase 3.
01:03According to the budget overview released by Cayetano earlier,
01:07there is a 10.33 billion approved budget for finishing touches
01:12such as security and IT system, safety and management building,
01:17as well as furniture and equipment.
01:19At this price, the new Senate leadership was shocked
01:23and that is what they are asking for.
01:25Initially, it was a little bit over 8 billion pesos before the shell
01:29but now it is more than 20 billion or 23 billion pesos.
01:36Cayetano has not yet seen any anomalies at this point.
01:40But in Cayetano's report to Senate President Chiz Escudero,
01:44he counted 833 million pesos of additional expenses
01:50due to those who did not follow the plan.
01:52The Senate Coordination Team also has a report on the quality of the work
01:56of the Department of Public Works and Highways or DPWH
02:00which is clear in terms of reference.
02:03There are also materials that, even if not needed, have already been purchased
02:07and the need is not there yet.
02:10That is why the project is being delayed.
02:12DPWH is also sleeping on the papers of the project which is added to the delay.
02:17If the Senate holds the payment due to the shells,
02:21a slowdown order will be issued by DPWH.
02:25If there is a budget in our General Appropriations Act,
02:30let's say 10 billion pesos for the new Senate building,
02:34can this be used?
02:36If it is in the budget, it can be used.
02:38But should it be?
02:40So we should not only be talking about what's legal but also what's moral.
03:10The goal is to have the best functional, iconic Senate building
03:26that will be a symbol of our democratic process,
03:30of the will of the Filipino people.
03:32At the best quality, at the right cost.
03:38For GMA Integrated News, Mark Salazar.
03:42Ringing 24 hours.
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