In the program of expenditure that ESSU Salcedo campus submitted, a total of eight buildings totally collapsed out of 38, while all the rest have significant total damage of roofing and roof frames, interior walls, ceilings, door and windows, and electrical installations. While ESSU Guiuan had 12 totally collapsed building out of 24. Other damages are similar with the buildings reported in ESSU Salcedo.
ESSU Salcedo campus receives the biggest chunk with 121,150,787.91 pesos. ESSU Guiuan campus came close with 94,622,780.43 pesos, while ESSU Maydolong campus receives the leanest slice amounting only to 1,935,261.43 pesos as there only minor damage to some of its structures that was reported, however, computers and other electronic office equipment, library books and almost all reference materials and publications were inundated and were rendered unusable. ESSU Guiuan also received around 30 million pesos from GSIS insurance which will also be channeled in the rehabilitation and reconstruction program according to Dr. Andres C. Pagatpatan, College Administrator.
Dr. Edmundo A. Campoto, in an executive meeting that he called the week after the start of the school year, stressed the importance of following strictly all procedural and legal requirements before funds will be disbursed. He also reiterated that bidders in the construction of buildings must have enough funds to cover the phase by phase accomplishment requirements prior to the release of succeeding caches so that the unnecessary delays in the construction can be avoided. He also underscored that ESSU will be like a fish in an aquarium that people will take a keen and meticulous look on how the sizeable amount will be spent according to its intended purpose. Sticking to the program and following strictly all legal procedures required before, during and after phases of implementation should be followed.
According to Mrs. Evelyn T. Obina, Finance Management Officer of the University, the University will not resort to open bidding but instead will opt for Negotiated Procurement, because according to her, RA 9184, otherwise known as Procurement Law, under Sec. 53.2 the cause of the damage falls under Emergency Cases where “in case of imminent danger to life and property during a state of calamity, or when time is of the essence arising from natural or man-made calamities or other causes where immediate action is necessary to prevent damage to or loss of life or property, or to restore vital public services, infrastructure facilities and other public utilities. In the case of infrastructure projects, the producing entity has the option to undertake the project through negotiated procurement or by administration or, in high security risk areas, through the AFP.” Mrs. Obina explains that the negotiated procurement will allow the University to expedite and depart from the usually snail-phased procedures prescribed by law under normal circumstance and achieve completion of all programs of work in due time. - Arnel A. Balbin
