By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson revealed yesterday that he will meet with representatives from Dynamic Builders and Construction Corp. to discuss options over the construction of the New Provincial Administration Center (PAC) in Talisay City.

According to Lacson, there is already a ruling from the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) that the project has to be re-bidded.

“I have not talked to any representative yet of Dynamic Builders, you all know the situation there, so we’ll see if I have to hear word, if the contractor is amenable to that,” Lacson said.

He further stated the contractor can always take legal options because it’s a valid contract, although they would like to hear them first.

The project was previously won by Dynamic Builders in a bidding held during the administration of the late Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr.

Lacson said if the matter is not decided, the province is left with no other option but to go by the contract and have the construction at the original site located in front of the NBI-Bacolod Field Office.

“During the early part the province was not able to take action because the area was not cleared and also because of the plans to transfer it to Talisay City,” Lacson said.

He further added there is already a delay, but he doesn’t think it’s the contractor’s fault.

The nearly P1-billion new PAC will be built on a 25-hectare property owned by the provincial government along the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road in Talisay based on the capitol plans.

The Dynamic Builders and Construction Corp. has already been paid of the usual 15 percent advance payment for its mobilization fund.

Earlier, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the re-bidding would be made if the contractor agrees to return the advance payment to the province.

He also explained that the delay of the project’s implementation is due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic./DGB, WDJ

——-