Bacolod City Legal Officer Allan Zamora yesterday said the government center project cannot be re-bidded since it has already been awarded to Hilmarc's Construction Corp.

Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella had questioned the bidding process and said he will call for a consultative dialog with the bidders who were disqualified on Friday. He also said that the project should be rebidded and open to the public.

Zamora said the project has practically passed through the eye of the needle because of the attention it generated. Even the director of the Government Procurement Policy Board came over to the Sangguniang Panlungsod to clarify issues relevant to the project, he said.

Under the law, the project cannot be re-bidded since it has already been awarded to HCC and there is already an existing contract between the contractor and the city, Zamora said. If the project will be rebidded, HCC can sue the city for breach of contract, he said.

Zamora said maybe Puentevella has a contractor he wants for the project and noted that there was even an attempt from the camp of the solon to join the bidding before. Zamora said the consultation set Friday will only be an exhibition. He said it should be held at the plaza.

He said he will only attend the consultation if the corruption charges he raised against Puentevella involving the renovation of the Paglaum Sports Complex, and the computers, among others, will be discussed.

Zamora said "Puentevella should answer directly the issues of corruption I raised against him."

Meanwhile, Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said it's just a matter of time before a building permit will be issued by the Office of the Building Official for the project after the Environmental Compliance Certificate has already been issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

He said the construction of HCC has temporarily stopped for the ECC requirement because they were adhering strictly to their own rules and procedures.

Leonardia said, "Because of the lack of ECC, in spite this being a government project, we wanted to set the example that is why we did not bulldoze the matter and complied with the requirement."

It is understandable that in any project problems crop up sometimes, he said.

Leonardia said they will continue to work on the project despite those trying to obstruct it. "So, even with the circumstances now, they can do their worst and I will do my best," he said.*CGS

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