Binay, Cayetano clash over New Senate Building costs

July 3, 2024 , 05:31 PM

(July 3, 2024) — Sen. Nancy Binay and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano clashed during a Senate hearing on Wedneesday over the cost of the New Senate Building in Taguig City.

Cayetano, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Accounts, questioned why Binay is accusing him of driving up the costs to P23 billion. Binay, the former committee chairperson, challenged Cayetano’s figures, claiming the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported a total cost of P21.7 billion for the project’s three phases.

He defended his data, saying it came from the Senate coordinating team that served as Binay’s former staff from the accounts committee. Binay countered, arguing that Cayetano included the lot price in the building’s total cost, which he denied.

The argument escalated as Cayetano accused Binay of working slowly, particularly on the P600 million landscape plan for the new building that had been pending since March 2023. Binay asserted she was thoroughly reviewing everything.

Cayetano also called out Binay for disrupting the hearing and politicizing the issue, linking it to the longstanding Taguig-Makati rivalry.

“Bakit ka galit na galit sa’kin na nire-review ko ‘yan? Do you want to help or gusto mo guluhin ang hearing?” Cayetano said.

Binay asked the DPWH to confirm if there was documentation for the P23 billion cost. Senior Usec. Emil Sadain replied, “There is none.” Following this, Binay walked out, stating, “I made my point. There’s no such thing as P23 billion.”

The hearing revealed that construction of the new Senate building had been delayed by 852 days, incurring additional charges of over P78 million due to extensions. The delay was attributed to the pandemic and numerous revisions in the plans, which Cayetano also questioned.

The next hearing on the issue is scheduled in the coming weeks.

(with reports from Maeanne Los Baños-Oroceo, News5)

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