Contractor told, this time: Finish Carbon Market construction by June 30

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government has again given a contractor another deadline to finish the reconstruction of Carbon Market Unit 2.

This time, the City Department of Engineering and Public Works gave Geety Realty Development Corporation until June 30 this year to complete the P167-million project.

City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete said the city is giving another chance to the contractor after it failed once again to supposedly complete the project in 2014.

Should the contractor fail once more to meet the new deadline, Poblete said they will possibly rescind the contract.

Earlier, Poblete asked the contractor to explain the delay in the project's completion.

"You are hereby directed to submit an explanation on why your contract for the reconstruction of Carbon Market Unit 2 located at barangay Ermita, Cebu City should not be terminated and why no sanctions should be imposed upon you for failure to complete the said project on time despite the time extensions granted," said Niva Bayucot, head of DEPW's construction division in a February 9-letter to the contractor.

The letter was noted by Poblete.

Geety had started the project in April 2013 and targeted to finish it exactly a year later.

The project was suspended though in May 2013 since the contractor has yet to secure permits, according to Poblete.

The construction resumed on October 1 of the same year but was again suspended the next day. It was already in January 6, 2014 that the construction resumed yet again.

The first revised date of completion was set on December 21, 2014 and the second on March 21, 2015.

But, again, it has extended to June, then to September, and then to December of the same year.

Poblete said there were reasons for every date revision, which he will explain to the city council inquiring about the project's status.

A new date for the executive session has not been set yet after the April 27 schedule was cancelled.

In 1998, the old Carbon Market Unit 2 was gutted by fire.  The construction of the new building is also subject of a complaint filed by former mayor Tomas Osmeña against incumbent Mayor Michael Rama and 19 other city officials before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for violation of the anti-graft law and of the Government Procurement Act. — (FREEMAN)