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Governor steps into school project delay
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Posted on Mar 17 1999
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday ordered the Department of Public Works and the Public School System to resolve problems arising from change orders in the construction of Kagman Elementary School which have pushed back the opening of the new school.
The future school in Kagman, which will funded by federal grants under the Capital Improvement Projects, has been scheduled to open in August, but since its groundbreaking in November less than 8 percent of the plan has been implemented.
The opening has been rescheduled for October.
Board of Education member Anthony Pellegrino told a recent meeting of the PSS CIP Committee the project was headed to a disaster because of change orders.
On top of this, dispute over who has expending authority over funds to build the Kagman school is causing the delay. According to Pellegrino, $4 million of the budget for the construction is to be expended by DPW, while $2.5 million by PSS.
The governor said he wanted the two agencies to remove the obstacles in the construction of the Kagman school so students from that community can use the facility as soon as possible.
The school is expected to serve some 600 students residing in Papago, Laolao Bay, Kagman I and II and As Teso.
Even before construction could take off, the school project has been drawn into controversies after a losing bidder, Fletcher Construction Co. Ltd., questioned the awarding of the contract to PAC United Corp. Ltd.
Fletcher claimed it offered the lowest bid, which became the basis for DPW Technical Services Director Andy Smith to endorse the company’s proposal. Smith’s recommendation was even concurred by the Division of Procurement and Regulations.
“We would like to see that the construction of the school and cafeteria completed as soon as possible,” Tenorio.
