Marawi demolition project went through legal process, NHA exec says

An official of the National Housing Authority facing criminal and administrative charges at the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday said the demolition and clearing operations in war-torn Marawi City complied with government procurement rules.

Special Bids and Awards Committee chairman Engineer Victor Balba said the complaint against him, NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., and Task Force Bangon Marawi chairman Eduardo del Rosario is baseless.

"The complaint is baseless kasi all of those activities ay dumaan sa tamang proseso based on the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9184 [Government Procurement Reform Act]," Balba said at a news conference.

Balba said officials from the Commission on Audit found nothing irregular with the contract when they observed the bidding process for the P2-billion contract.

"This is also witnessed by our COA observers na kung sakaling may mali d'yan alam ng COA yan at masasabihan kami," Balba said.

Last week, Marawi resident and civic group leader Datu Meno Manabilang sued Balba, Escalada, and Del Rosario at the Ombudsman in connection with the contract awarded to CJI General Services Inc. for the demolition of damaged structures and debris management for Sections 2 to 9 of the most affected area of Marawi City. 

Manabilang said CJI immediately started the demolition upon receiving the notice of award from the NHA despite the lack of a joint venture license.

The NHA thus terminated the contract of CJI in February and awarded it to Eddmari Construction and Trading at a negotiated price of P2.16 billion, but Manabilang said Eddmari had a problematic track record in its implementation of the Typhoon Yolanda housing projects.

Due to the bad standing of Eddmari, Manabilang claimed the firm had an internal agreement with CJI to subcontract the project. He said the NHA still favored Eddmari despite the proposal of three other qualified bidders. — RSJ, GMA News