Hilmarc's Construction Corp. had requested for a suspension of time given them to finish the Bacolod City Government Center project, not a suspension of the work on the project, City Administrator Lorendo Dilag said yesterday.

Dilag said this was clarified to him by HCC legal counsel Rogelio Peig during their recent conference in Bacolod City.

In a phone interview yesterday, Peig said that what they had requested from the city government was a suspension of the period of time given them to finish the project pending the issuance of a building permit.

He said that since they did not ask for the suspension of the project, the preliminary work continues, except that no direct construction will be going on at the site until they get a building permit.

Dilag said it is clearly stated in the contract that HCC will undertake the construction of the project within a period of 18 months starting Jan. 2. He said that since HCC has formally started the construction of the project, it unilaterally asked for the suspension of time until a building permit will be issued to them.

Dilag said the Environmental Compliance Certificate, which is a requirement for issuance of a building permit, is being facilitated at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. He believes it is just a matter of time before it is granted, he said.

Once the ECC is granted, a copy will be given to the Office of the Building Official as basis for the issuance of the building permit, he added.

Dilag said the city had applied for ECC and certificate of non-coverage. He said they have already submitted the required documents last month to the DENR regional office which conducted a surprise ocular inspection at the government center site last week.

Meanwhile, Peig said that, until now, they have not yet received a copy of the complaint filed by the KABALAKA group against them so they have no idea what the case is all about.

A complaint seeking the declaration of nullity of the contract between the city and HCC, against Mayor Evelio Leonardia, HCC, the members of the Bids and Awards Committee and the 10 councilors who authorized the Mayor to enter into the contract with the winning bidder, was filed by the KABALAKA group last month.

Peig said they cannot make a comment until they receive a copy.

Dilag, a member of the BAC, said he believes the case filed by the KABALAKA group against them is weak.*CGS

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