Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday provided updates on the ongoing factual and independent review of the New Senate Building (NSB) project, sharing concerns about the updated timeline and cost estimates.
“Since we started the review of the project, we haven’t made any accusations or allegations, we’re just fact-finding,” he told reporters in an interview on October 10, 2024
Cayetano, who chairs the Senate Committee on Accounts which is tasked to oversee the NSB review, revealed that his office recently received a letter from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), forwarded through Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
According to the DPWH’s letter, the projected construction duration for Phase 3 of the building is now between 36 to 48 months, excluding aesthetic, interior fit-out works, and Building Electronics Systems.
Calling the timeline unacceptable, Cayetano said he promptly wrote back to the department to reconsider the construction schedule as such a duration could be enough to complete an entirely new building.
He further noted that the project’s Revised Detailed Architectural and Engineering Designs (R-DAEDS) were only finalized last month. Before Cayetano assumed the chairmanship of the Accounts Committee, the NSB had neither a set price nor final engineering and architectural plans.
According to him, this brings the projected cost of the building to P31.67 billion, or P33.07 billion if the furniture and land are included.
“It’s only now that we have a timeline and overall project cost, but hindi acceptable y’ung timeline na three to four years. And hindi rin acceptable kay Senate President y’ung P31.6 billion na building cost or P33 billion na total project cost,” the senator said.
Cayetano said his committee is working on forming a “new” Senate Coordinating Team (SCT) to streamline internal processes and has asked the DPWH to do the same.
“We’re going to put up a new Senate coordinating committee kasi nga maraming, for lack of a better word, red tape, too many people, and too many levels. But we’re asking the DPWH to mirror y’ung gagawin namin kasi paikot-ikot din sa iba’t ibang proseso nila,” he said.
Cayetano said the main goal is to bring down the cost significantly without compromising quality and safety.
“Ang trabaho ko is to give an honest report that is comprehensive and factual, and to present to the Senate President and to all the senators a plan na matapos ng pinakamaganda sa least cost y’ung Senate building,” he said.
