Binay questions higher price tag on Senate building

Sen. Nancy Binay yesterday questioned how Senate President Francis Escudero came up with a P23.3-billion price tag on the New Senate Building (NSB), now being criticized for its construction costs.

-  MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

In an interview with dwPM, Binay said she could not understand how Escudero and new Senate accounts committee chair Alan Peter Cayetano came up with the price tag, when only two phases of the project are ongoing.

“That is a wrong figure. Where did they get that figure? I wanted to ask Sen. Alan about his computations. Because as far as I’m concerned, only P10 billion was bid out,” she said.

Binay was referring to the two phases of the project – the first for the “core and shell” of the building, and the second for its finishing.

The first phase for the “core and shell” of the building is worth P8.067 billion, which includes the engineering, plumbing, as well as earth, electrical and concrete works, according to a contract between the Department of Public Works and Highways and Hilmarc’s Construction Corp. uploaded on the DPWH website.

The second phase worth P2.375 billion is for the finishing, such as doorways, windows and tiles, according to the second contract with Hilmarc’s also uploaded in the DPWH website.

Among the most expensive items are granite tiles, which cost P43,996.59 per square meter; as well as wood tiles, with the cheapest at P10,442.84 per square meter (laminated wood tile in matte finish) and the most expensive at P75,166.7 (laminated wood tile sand oak) per square meter, according to the contract.

The second phase also included the Senate electrical works for its audiovisual, broadcasting and security management systems.

Binay said the third phase is projected to reach P10 billion, but this has yet to be bid out.