No loan needed in hospital construction, says Dipolog City CDC

By Alfonso T. Ruda

Saturday 4th of August 2012

DIPOLOG CITY, Aug 4 (PIA) -- The Presidential fund is sufficient to finance the ongoing construction of the Dipolog City Hospital and the city government need not apply for a loan to finish the project.

This was the assurance of Engineer Albert Alimpulos, the concurrent City Development Coordinator (CDC) of Dipolog City amidst allegations that the city government is planning to apply for a loan to finance the construction of the said hospital.

President Aquino, in his campaign sorties during the 2010 Presidential election, has committed P200-million for the construction of the city hospital of Dipolog.

Alimpulos said the initial release of P50-million that was received by the city government through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was used for the Phase I of the project.

A funding of P2.6 million was appropriated for the general requirements of the project such as the construction of temporary facilities; soil exploration to determine the bearing capacity of the hospital site; P4.6 million was appropriated for site preparation that includes clearing, gravelling and soil poisoning; P41-million has been appropriated for civil and structural works like filing, fitting, masonry, frameworks, plumbing and electrical works or roughing-ins; and P1.75 million was set aside for DPWH retention for supervision, processing and other requirements.

Alimpulos pointed out that all heavy equipment used in the construction are owned by the city government and no single private contractor has been involved in the project, not even consultants.

He assured that all documents pertaining to the construction of the hospital, especially its accomplishment report, are available in his office and could be looked upon by any interested party.

He added that all projects implemented by the city government are in accordance with the budgeting rules and regulations and has not violated any provision of the rules of Commission on Audit. (JPA/ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte)