Again, again, P1.2-m classroom

MAYBE it was wrong to ask someone from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) how much a classroom would cost on the average. Make no mistake. I have nothing against building schools. The need for them should have been answered a long time ago, and Mayor Moreno is doing it. But one thing continues to bug me––is it really that expensive? P1.2 million per classroom?

I posed this challenge before for our engineers, architects and contractors in the city to provide answer. Unfortunately, nobody wants to give a clear answer.

I met this engineer in Davao City last month. There have been a few projects there to his credit. In the course of our conversation, we accidentally touched on school buildings. I asked him how much a classroom would cost in a two-story concrete building?

“Why do you ask?” he asked me.
I said the business sector donated a two-classroom building costing only P400 thousand. The Department of Education (Deped) estimate is more or less P600 thousand plus, and the DPWH estimate is at P500 thousand plus.

Accurate or not, the cost per classroom as reported by the city government, runs to about P1.2 million. “Impossible,” he blurted out. But since Kagay-anons are not saying anything, because accordingly, “Maayo na lang kay naay gihimo kaysa wala like during Dongkoy’s time,” the construction of school buildings continue amid speculations that they’re overpriced.
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Why are our traffic lights no longer working? Nobody is talking, not even people from the Task Force Hapsay Dalan. I thought nothing is wrong with the contract. On second thought, something must have been discovered. Is it something in time for elections?

It is very unusual that the project, with the contract scrutinized, cannot be finished in more than two years. Even the project contractor has not been saying anything about the delay. Hmmmm… something may be cooking.
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There are projects that some investors are willing to undertake, projects that can solve one of our problems like garbage.

We continue to blame the city council majority, the “violets,” the past administration. They’re valid reasons, of course. For this reason, Archbishop Antonio Ledesma and Fr. Roberto Yap have reportedly come out in support of this rally against the council majority. Well and good.

But that is just one side of the coin. An investor was willing to provide a solution. The only problem is that, someone is asking for a huge amount of money. Dako ra kayo ang gipangayo.

Did IPM give? Before even informing Basura Atbp. that they’re no longer needed, IPM garbage trucks were already seen. Basura felt it was an insult.

With IPM, citizens are seeing the worst of the garbage collection.
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The “Sona” is over but nothing is heard of the anointed one. An attempt to resort to “No-el” during GMA’s time failed. GMA was afraid of being hailed to prison after her term. Is PNoy afraid of the same thing? Would he consider this move, too?