The building was supposed to be turned over by Thursday.
In an Instagram post on Friday, September 5, First Lady Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta-Marcos aired her disappointment on the contractors of the Philippine Film Heritage Building in Intramuros.
In the photos, she was seen personally inspecting the building and talking to officials, including Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Sec. Amenah Pangandaman.
“This is the so-called newly-built Philippine Film Heritage Building — a P200 million project that was supposed to honor our filmmakers, writers and artists and serve as the permanent home for Philippine cinema,” Araneta-Marcos wrote.
She the emphasized the issues that were discovered during the inspection and added, “Instead, what did we get? Leaking roofs, cracked walls, unfinished theaters, ceilings already statined with water—all in a building that hasn’t even opened.”
The First Lady also directed a message to the builders in-charge of doing the work and told them, “Seriously?! Mahiya naman kayo! Pati ito, ninakawan niyo ng dignidad. Our artists deserve respect—not this rotten monument of incompetence.“
THE BUILDERS
The contractor for the said project was identified to be the Great Pacific Builders and General Contractor, Inc., a company owned by the controversial Discaya couple that is also facing scrutiny over their involvement in the flood control projects of the government.
It was awarded to them by the Department of Public Works and Highways-South Manila Engineering District with a contract cost of PHP143.22 million. The building was also supposed to be turned over on September 4, 2025.
In her own visit to the site, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office Usec. Claire Castro mulled the filing of legal complaints against the construction company.
“Kung wala silang valid reason kung bakit hindi nila ito nai-turn over ng tama at naaayon sa kontrata, pwede silang makasuhan, unang-una civil liability, meron ‘to,” said Castro.
In response, Atty. Cornelio Samaniego III, legal counsel of the Discaya family, claimed in an interview with DZMM TeleRadyo that the Great Pacific’s involvement in the works was completed in December 2024, when the first phase worth PHP143.22 million was completed.
He adeed, the second phase worth PHP107.9 million was awarded to another party, Shutterbox Solutions and Services Corporation.
CASTRO REFUTES
On Saturday, September 6, Usec. Claire Castro belied Atty. Samaniego’s statement and said, “They might have forgotten their commitments, considering the numerous projects that they got from the government. Wrong information given to the media may cause confusion to the people.”
She noted rhar Great Pacific Builders “voluntarily entered” into a contract agreement for Phase 2 of the project with DPWH representative Manny Bulusan from the Office of the District Engineer.
The Palace official also revealed that the Discayas had agreed to carry out works under Contract ID No. 230H0119: Local Program/ National Building Program/ Buildings and other Structures- Multi-Purpose/Facilities – Construction of FDCP Film Heritage Building in Intramuros, Manila.
The contract price for that was PHP107.9 million and was originally scheduled to be completed for 240 days, with the expiry scheduled on September 4, 2025.
Castro added, “Common sense will dictate us that the contractor cannot finish the project in December 2024 when the contract was merely executed into a contract on Jan. 2. 2025. Paano mangyayari na natapos ang kontrata noong December 2024 pero ang kontrata ay magsisimula nang January 2025?”
At present, the Discaya camp has yet to issue another statement.