The rehabilitated building of the Mati City Hall will finally be occupied within the month after Mayor Michelle Rabat lifted the suspension she earlier imposed on the project.

Rabat suspended all ongoing projects of the previous administration upon her assumption on June 30, 2019.

Rabat said she lifted the suspension on several of the projects that already undergone a forensic audit, including the PHP64.5 million City Hall building project.

The rehabilitation of the City Hall building was undertaken by Lotrim Construction, Inc. on Mar. 21, 2016 under the administration of then-Mayor Carlo Rabat.

Before the incumbent mayor’s assumption, the local government already paid the contractor PHP62.3 million.

In an Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) released by the Commission on Audit on August 28, 2019, the agency noted that “bidding documents and all related documents forming part of the contract were not submitted to the COA Office contrary to the provisions of COA Circular No. 2009-001, particularly on the submission of contracts which must be within five working days from the execution.”

The COA recommended to the new mayor to “require the responsible officials/employees to immediately submit the bidding documents and the supporting documents for the payments to Lotrim Construction”.

Rabat said the contractor already met with local officials to complete the project.

Rabat also recently ordered the termination of the PHP25-million contract for the improvement of the FGR Park and Baywalk that was entered into by the previous administration for failure to utilize the amount within the prescribed period. (PNA)