Floro to CFI: Bring it on

CEBU, Philippines —  The Joint Venture Selection Committee (JVSC) that approved Megawide Construction Corp.’s proposal to redevelop the Carbon Public Market is ready to face the criminal complaint the Cebu CFI Community Cooperative (CFI) is planning to file against its members.

“Kaayo (definitely, we are ready). Knowing the personalities involved ana, kanang file-file og kaso, that’s all they had,” said JVSC chairman and City Administrator Floro Casas Jr.

CFI earlier hinted at filing a graft case against the selection committee after the cooperative was supposedly refused to participate in the fray to pursue the project.

Casas, however, said the coop has the right to file a case and that they welcome such move.

“Ilaha man nang katungod ang mo-file og kaso against namo. But, bisag gamay wa jud mi mahadlok kay we are very confident nga we did everything by the book,” said Casas.

“I don’t know kung unsay ilahang basehan sa ilahang pag-file, but kami on our end sa JVSC, we welcome that filing para at least maka-explain sad mi nila kung unsay saktong proseso sa joint venture selection committee in awarding the Carbon Public Market development sa Megawide,” he added.

CFI earlier expressed interest in pursuing the project but the committee led by Casas allegedly refused to furnish the former with the formal instructions to interested private sector participants even as it tendered the required P50,000 deposit.

CFI chairman Winston Garcia first raised their concern on the alleged refusal in a letter dated October 16, 2020 addressed to JVSC chairman Casas.

In justifying the snub, JVSC argued that the CFI failed to submit a written notarized Notice of Expression of Interest (EOI) to submit a comparative proposal on or before October 16, 2020.

But yesterday, Casas said that the mere act of paying is not enough.

“That’s only one of the many requirements for you to challenge or submit a comparative proposal. Ang ilang gisubmit, mga complaint man to. Di man to letter of intent,” said Casas.

Casas said the P50,000 amount was received “with reservation” at the City Treasurer’s Office, pending compliance to other requirements.

He added the cooperative can claim the money anytime they want to.

“Sa akong nahibaw-an wala pa (mauli ang kwarta), but if ilang kuhaon, anytime they can claim it. Kay wala man ju’y basis nga muhold mi ato. We just received it kay ila man jud ipugos og padawat namo,” said Casas.

“Within the period nga gi-provide nato, wala man gyud sila maka-comply, so wala gyud tay Swiss Challenge to speak of as far as the Megawide development project is concerned,” he added.—  JMD (FREEMAN)