THE CEBU provincial capital complex. — TAGUM CIO

THE planned 20-storey Capitol Resource Center project of the Cebu provincial government has hit a snag after a board resolution authorizing Gov. Hilario P. Davide III to enter into a contract with the winning contractor failed to get majority approval. The provincial board members voted 8-6-3 in favor, against, and abstention. The Department of Interior and Local Government has issued a clarification on the matter, declaring that eight favorable votes does not meet the required majority. The resolution would have given Mr. Davide the go signal to sign the deal with WT Construction for P1.3-billion building project within the Capitol compound. Vice-Governor Agnes A. Magpale, who chairs the provincial board, said she is disappointed at how the project had been politicized. Cebu 3rd District Rep. Gwendolyn F. Garcia earlier wrote to Ms. Magpale and all the members of the board, warning them of possible legal problems if they push through with the project. Ms. Magpale and Ms. Garcia are running against each other as governor in the May 2019 midterm elections. Ms. Garcia said the project would violate the heritage law considering that the Capitol building has been declared a heritage site. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) earlier questioned the project for lack of approval from them as mandated under the law. — The Freeman

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