Maasin City, Southern Leyte – The P18M Legislative building, which is done in a phase by phase style of construction, is estimated to be finished before July 2009, in time for the upcoming 49th anniversary celebration of the province of Southern Leyte.

This was the disclosure of Engr. Fernando Moralde, the Provincial Engineering Office head, before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members who invited him and his colleagues during their recent session held at the provincial capitol here (April 13, 2009) to shade light on the on-going project. He was accompanied by Engr. Nelson Tan, Assistant Provincial Engineer, who accepts the plan and preparation of work; Engr.Brigido Eway, in-charge of the planning division office and construction of vertical structures; Engr. Alfonso Bantug, project in-charged of the Legislative Building.

He told the SP members that since there were no immediate available funds of P18M at the time of the construction work of the building, they have decided to do it phase by phase. He said that phases one and two have already been done and that they are now on its third and last phase of construction works.

Asked about the details of their earlier works, the Engineer said that phase one has covered the construction of foundations, tie beams, columns, some of the beams of the upper portion of the building and masonry works.

While phase two involved the construction of concrete structures, completion of the beams and of the roof decks, skyline roofing, continuation of masonry works,walling,partitions,roof framing, electrical installations, plumbing system and tile works of all the rooms.

Moralde revealed that Congressman Roger Mercado has contributed P2M for the phase three construction works which is now undergoing. The scope of work has covered the tiling of the whole flooring of the building, excavation, construction of septic vaults, drainage around the building, some electrical works, continuation of plumbing and painting.

Another amount of P2M was also allocated for the construction of session hall, slabs and framings and for partial glass covers.

The project in-charge of the Legislative Building, Engr.Alfonso Bantug claimed that the building needs more or less 277 square foot of glass covers. This would amount to P850.00 per sq. foot, he said, based on their canvassing results conducted from various stores.

Moralde said that if ever there’s an additional works of glass coverings, he recommended that the scope of work be implemented thru the supply-and–install system. He said that by this scheme, “we can bill directly to the glass suppliers and not anymore to the contractors”.

On the other hand, Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo, 11, also divulged that he has set aside P1.5M from their 2009 capital outlay for the furniture fixtures and air-conditioning of the one-storey building.

When the PEO head was asked by the Vice-Governor how far they have gone in their works, he said that the Legislative Building is now 80% accomplish.

Other works to b e done in the building are wall cladding, lights installation,water proofing/roof slab, wood works and carpentry, stainless railings, landscaping and the making of parking area.

Further queried by SP Albert Esclamado why the one-storey Legislative Building cost more than the two-storey Provincial Disaster Management Center building, which was also constructed within the Capitol Site. Moralde explained that PDMC’s floor area is only 150 square meters with an estimated cost of P20,000.00 per sq.m.Whereas the Legislative Building has occupied an area of 800 square meters at P20,000.00 per square meter.

He also said that the kind of materials they were using in the construction of PDMC is “below par” compared to the materials they were using in the LB.

If there will be no interruption whatsoever in our third phase of construction, “we would like that the Legislative Building will be finished before July 1,2009,which is one of the “highlights” of the province of Southern Leyte’s 49th founding anniversary celebration”,Moralde said. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

About the Contributor:

Mr. Quirico M. Gorpido Jr was an erstwhile Correspondent/Contributor to the following weeklies and dailies: Tacloban-based regional weekly a 33-year-old The Reporter for many years(now defunct), a Cebu-based weekly The Visayan Express(now defunct),Cebu-based daily The Freeman(1994-1998) now a sister publication of The Philippine Star, Maasin-based weekly The Southern Leyte Times for three years, Tacloban-based daily The Leyte Samar Daily Express(2000-2001), Cebu-based daily the Cebu Daily News(2002-2003), Tacloban-based weekly 7-year-old Tribune(2003-2007).