P65m defective structure to be occupied by Govt Depts

The building was bought as part of continued efforts to secure more office space to mitigate the acute shortage of office accommodation for government ministries and departments, which had resulted in high office rental expenditures of over P105 million in the last financial year alone.

Meantime five years since the building has been idle, the two Ministries of Trade and Industry and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) are reported to be ready to move in. However, the Auditor General in his latest report said he is not aware how the outstanding matters of the condition of the building and making good the defects, had been resolved between government and the developers. Amongst other issues, there was need to correct the slope ramp to the basement parking, as well as provision of fire escape stairs to the building, provision of necessary width to the staircase, provision of additional parking, provision of facilities for disabled persons to the bathrooms, as well as correction of corner windows to open.