The City Government of Cagayan de Oro has maintained that it has paid the contractor of the unfinished P64 million Mega Health Center project in Macanhan, Barangay Carmen, contrary to the contractor’s claim that the local government has not released any payment, which prompted them to abandon the project.

“Kanang Mega Health Center pinasahi na sa Super Health Center gi-finance na sa lokal nga kagamhanan sa Cagayan apan walay utang ang dakbayan sa kontraktor gibiyaan lang sa kontraktor,” Mayor Rolando Uy said.

The City Information Office (CIO) released documents showing that the Office of the City Accountant had issued and released payments to the contractor, Nurben Engineering and Building Contruction, on two separate occasions.

The documents show a mobilization fund amounting to P9.74 million, with a check dated June 11, 2024, and payment for first partial billing with 15 percent work accomplishment amounting to P8.26 million, with a check dated December 20, 2024.

GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is reaching out to the contractor for a statement, as of this writing.

However, the contractor earlier claimed that they only received the 15 percent mobilization fund from the local government, which allowed them to develop the project site in March 2024.

The contractor said they were forced to stop construction after the city government allegedly failed to release the payment when they submitted their second billing, which was equivalent to 20 percent of the project cost.

“That is not our fault, it’s their fault. They failed to pay us in due time,” Nurben Engineering and Building Construction Sole Proprietor, Engr. Benjamin Hamid, said earlier.

The local government also said earlier that the contract was terminated on August 11, 2025 after the project was not finished due to lack of commitment from the contractor.

The local government added that it was supposed to be completed in January 2025. However, the work stopped suddenly, and the contractor abandoned it for several months, prompting the local government to issue notices.

“Sa kalit gibiyaan ni giundangan so delay for how many months naghatag kita notice niini wala gihapon nila tumana wala nila trabahoa kining pag construct niini pagpadayon so nag notice napud tag third notice. Wala naman tay choice ang atong mahimo ani is gi-abandon gyud sa contractor in short mao na nahitabo karon nga naa tay termination well in fact terminated na kani nga project since August pa,” said Joel Momongan, head of the City Engineering Office.

Despite the controversy, the city government is determined the complete the project.

“Apan paningkamutan nato nga tiwason na kay para kana sa katawhan,” Uy said.