Zambales gov’t probes relocation site
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- The Zambales provincial government has asked officials of Subic town to release documents pertaining to a relocation project funded by a South Korean firm, and repair and complete the site’s facilities.
The relocation site in Sitio Agusuhin was funded by the Hanjin Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. for about 400 families displaced by its $1.684-billion shipbuilding project in Subic since April.
The provincial government’s Task Force Hanjin has requested at least eight kinds of documents and answers from Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun through a letter on Sept. 3.
Documents
These are the certified true copies of the program of work, plans and specifications of all projects listed in Hanjin’s purchase order for P18 million worth of construction materials for 33 public facilities in May, building permits issued to the contractor, and “change order” that authorizes the realignment of identified projects to the construction of four school buildings.
It also asked a list of actions taken by the mayor’s office and municipal board to address the ongoing concerns and problems of the residents, master plan of the relocation site, certified true copy of the environmental compliance certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the relocation site, and copies of certificates of titles to the residents.
The task force, headed by former Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II, had found “several structures missing and damaged” at the upland relocation site located off the coast of the Redondo Bay.
Khonghun told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Sunday that he received a copy of the letter and that he would furnish the task force with documents.
He said structures were damaged because the “contractors rushed with work since the residents did not want to leave and Hanjin and the [Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority] already want the site.”
SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said it was the representatives of Hanjin, not SBMA’s, who negotiated with the residents for compensation damages.
Khonghun and former Zambales Gov. Vicente Magsaysay denied handling the P24-million budget as payments for demolished houses.
Funds
Khonghun also said he could not accede to the requests to repair and complete the structures since there were no more funds for these.
He said a Department of Public Works and Highways team had assessed that the contractor, North Bound Hardware and General Merchandise, had spent P22.5 million for the structures on site.
Cost
An Inquirer source at the DPWH, however, said the structures on site cost only P3 million.
Hanjin, in a March 2006 amended lease agreement with Khonghun and Arreza, said it should be “free from any cost overrun or any other demands whatsoever from any entities in relation to the project beyond the [P18 million] sum.”
Improvements
Khonghun said the town government could improve the relocation site with the help of the SBMA and the national government.
The task force, on the order of Gov. Amor Deloso, has asked the Subic government to demolish two damaged school buildings, construct a footbridge, build three elevated water tanks, do slope protection works, improve the roads and drainage system, and provide electricity to the site. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon
The relocation site in Sitio Agusuhin was funded by the Hanjin Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. for about 400 families displaced by its $1.684-billion shipbuilding project in Subic since April.
The provincial government’s Task Force Hanjin has requested at least eight kinds of documents and answers from Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun through a letter on Sept. 3.
Documents
These are the certified true copies of the program of work, plans and specifications of all projects listed in Hanjin’s purchase order for P18 million worth of construction materials for 33 public facilities in May, building permits issued to the contractor, and “change order” that authorizes the realignment of identified projects to the construction of four school buildings.
It also asked a list of actions taken by the mayor’s office and municipal board to address the ongoing concerns and problems of the residents, master plan of the relocation site, certified true copy of the environmental compliance certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the relocation site, and copies of certificates of titles to the residents.
The task force, headed by former Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II, had found “several structures missing and damaged” at the upland relocation site located off the coast of the Redondo Bay.
Khonghun told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Sunday that he received a copy of the letter and that he would furnish the task force with documents.
He said structures were damaged because the “contractors rushed with work since the residents did not want to leave and Hanjin and the [Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority] already want the site.”
SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said it was the representatives of Hanjin, not SBMA’s, who negotiated with the residents for compensation damages.
Khonghun and former Zambales Gov. Vicente Magsaysay denied handling the P24-million budget as payments for demolished houses.
Funds
Khonghun also said he could not accede to the requests to repair and complete the structures since there were no more funds for these.
He said a Department of Public Works and Highways team had assessed that the contractor, North Bound Hardware and General Merchandise, had spent P22.5 million for the structures on site.
Cost
An Inquirer source at the DPWH, however, said the structures on site cost only P3 million.
Hanjin, in a March 2006 amended lease agreement with Khonghun and Arreza, said it should be “free from any cost overrun or any other demands whatsoever from any entities in relation to the project beyond the [P18 million] sum.”
Improvements
Khonghun said the town government could improve the relocation site with the help of the SBMA and the national government.
The task force, on the order of Gov. Amor Deloso, has asked the Subic government to demolish two damaged school buildings, construct a footbridge, build three elevated water tanks, do slope protection works, improve the roads and drainage system, and provide electricity to the site. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon
Labels: deloso, hanjin, khonghum, lacbain, magsaysay, subic, zambales
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
10:32 PM
1 Comments:
Sadly only 20% of the total money given by Hanjin was spent for the relocation site; and hence, the problems now.
Show the people the money!
By
Anonymous, at 9/11/2007 12:11 AM
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