Contractor mum on Makati building's 'world-class' quality

MANILA, Philippines - Unlike the Binays, the contractor of the Makati City Hall II parking building is not describing the allegedly overpriced structure as world-class.

During the third Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee hearing into the controversial building on Thursday, Hilmarc's Construction Corp. clarified that it has not echoed the statement of the Binays.

"We cannot make that claim that it is world-class," said lawyer Rogelio Peig, Hilmarc's Construction Corp. assistant vice president for legal affairs.

But Peig added later: "We are not also saying it is not world-class."

While grilling Peig, Sen. Alan Cayeteno pointed out that the Binays had tried to justify the high cost of the parking building by claiming that it was world-class and a green building.

Peig, however, clarified that the parking building has not been certified as a green building, though it has the features of such structure.

One of the resource persons at the hearing who inspected the building last Monday also does not agree with the defense of the Binays.

"Ito po ay isang magandang building, pero hindi ko po siguro masasabi na ito ay isang world-class building," said Dr. Ricardo Sigwa, head of the University of the Philippines Institute of Civil Engineering.

Vice President Jejomar Binay and his son, Makati City Mayor Erwin "Junjun" Binay are facing a plunder complaint over the parking building that is allegedly overpriced at P2.7 billion.

Peig denied that the Makati building is overpriced since its cost is comparable to that of other government buildings.