(NI DANG SAMSON-GARCIA)

KINUWESTYON ni Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon ang paglalaan ng Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) ng P50 milyon para sa disenyo at konstruksyon ng stadium cauldron para sa Southeast Asian Games.

Ginawa ito ni Drilon sa deliberasyon ng Senado sa budget ng BCDA para sa taong 2020.

“A P50-million kaldero. Do you realize that at P1 million per classroom this can construct 50 classrooms? In other words, we did away with 50 classrooms in exchange for one kaldero, is this a correct conclusion?,” saad ni Drilon.

“Is that reasonable? Is that a correct prioritization? Each classroom will cost P1 million and just for the kaldero, which should be used only once, we will spend P50 million,” dagdag pa ng senador.

Sa pagpapaliwanag ni Senador Sonny Angara, chair ng Senate Finance Committee at sponsor ng BCDA 2020 budget, ang design cost ng cauldron ay umaabot sa P4.4 milyon habang ang foundation nito ay nasa P13.4 milyon.

Sinabi ni Angara na ang pagpapagawa ng naturang gamit ay sa ilalim ng Philippine Sports Commission(PSC) at dinisenyo ng yumaong Filipino architect na si Bobby Mañosa.

Sa pagtatanong din ni Drilon, kinumpirma ni Angara na aabot sa P32 milyon ang pagpapagawa ng cauldron.

“Construction of SEA Games stadium cauldron design and installation (is) P32 million,” diin ni Angara na nagtangka pang dipensahan ang halaga.

“I think what the government is really envisioning was to do a really impressive hosting of the games and showcase the Philippine ingenuity by using Philippine creative designers and performers. I think this is what other Southeast Asian countries have also done when it was their turn to host,” paliwanag ni Angara.

Sinagot naman ito ni Drilon na “I think in his hearts of hearts, the good sponsor, good intention as he is, finds difficulty justifying a P50-million kaldero.”