MANILA – Senator Raffy Tulfo pressed Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya to explain the delay in the renovation of Rizal Hall at the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila College of Arts and Sciences, a project awarded to his firm, St. Timothy Construction Corp., in 2018.

At the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Tulfo criticized the seven-year delay in the ₱30-million project, which has left students unable to use the facility.

“Ano nang nangyari sa UP Manila Rizal Hall Project na naibigay sa St. Timothy Construction Corporation para ayusin? ₱30 Million Filipino people’s money ang pinondo diyan pero pitong taon na ang nakakalipas, hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin matapos-tapos ‘yan,” Tulfo said.

“Don’t tell me hindi mo alam ‘to. Eskwelahan ito at hindi basta basta mga building lamang. Para ito sa mga estudyante,” he added.

Tulfo said the delay not only wasted taxpayer money but also deprived students of much-needed classrooms. He noted that aside from the initial ₱30 million, the 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA) also allotted ₱100 million for the rehabilitation of Rizal Hall.

Discaya attributed the delay to suspensions, extensions, and lack of approval from certain school officials, but Tulfo stressed that funds had already been released and projects could not be put off indefinitely.

The senator also questioned whether feasibility studies and project plans were properly presented to UP Manila and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) before construction began, which Discaya failed to answer.

The contractor was ordered to submit a full report and supporting documents to the committee. The project was later turned over to another contractor.