3 weeks ago
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DESPITE completing repairs on the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) track oval four months ago, the contractor has yet to receive full payment from the city government due to delays in the issuance of certificate of completion.
SBD Builders, the firm responsible for the renovation and the eventual repair of the track oval of CCSC, expressed frustration over the prolonged wait.
Owner Shaun Doherty said the company finished the project in November 2024, ensuring the facility was ready for major events like the Cebu City Olympics and the Sinulog Festival.
However, key documents required for payment have not been released.
Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia explained that the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) must first inspect and formally accept the project before the city can process the payment.
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He added that the city government will shoulder the expenses for the assessment by a third party.
Once the evaluation is complete, he said, the findings will determine whether the contractor complied with project requirements, which will then serve as the basis for payment.
Doherty recalled that a joint inspection with city officials in late November showed satisfaction with the work done.
He said they were assured that the certificates of completion and turnover would be issued, but three months have passed and the certificate of comple-tion has not been released yet.
Doherty pointed out that Garcia had publicly promised the issuance of the certificates after the repairs were completed. He also noted that SBD Builders had upheld every promise it made to the city government, including the repairs.
Doherty also raised concerns over the continued use of the track oval for large events without notifying the contractor.
He said his company should not be held accountable for any damages caused by these activities, as the track was designed specifically for sports use.
He said that the company simply wanted the project to be officially turned over to the city government.
"It would be unreasonable for a contractor to take on an open-ended commitment to repair a project at a fixed cost while remaining on standby to fix damages not caused by their professional errors but by the end users' misuse," he said.
He also questioned the transparency of the third-party consultant process, particularly the lack of disclosure about the firm conducting the evaluation.
He said the city government should stop prolonging the issue and involving his company in political matters, as SBD Builders wanted no part in any polit-ical agenda or narratives.
Garcia, meanwhile, confirmed that DEPW head Lowell Corminal had already met with the third-party consultant and that details regarding fees, scope of work, and proposals are to be expected soon.
Garcia noted that initial assessments indicated no visible damage to the track despite multiple major events being held there after the repairs.
However, he emphasized that the third-party consultant's findings would determine whether the contractor fully complied with project requirements.
