Press Release - Cayetano review on New Senate Building uncovers dramatic cost increase

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano's independent review of the New Senate Building continues to unveil alarming revelations about its escalating costs, highlighting the absence of a final project price which remains a "moving target."

Cayetano, who assumed the position of Accounts Committee chair following a Senate leadership change in June this year, disclosed that the total building cost has increased from P21.7 billion to now a whopping estimate of P31.6 billion.

"Medyo nalungkot ako sa report na aabot nga ng three to four years or 36 to 48 months daw [ang completion ng phase 3 ng NSB] sabi ng DPWH... Nung kinuwenta din namin lahat kung kasama ang lupa [at furnitures], with apples-to-apples comparison - meaning ituloy lang project as planned - ay aabot ito ng P33 billion," the senator said via Facebook Live on October 11, 2024.

Cayetano explained that it is through the NSB review that the Senate established a timeline and overall project cost following the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)'s completion of the Revised Detailed Architectural and Engineering Designs (R-DAEDS) in September.

"Again this is not about finger-pointing or, sa ngayon, holding people accountable. Wala nga kaming sinasabing irregularity o anomalya. We're just focused on finding out the facts - what happened and how can we fix it," he said.

In an interview last July when he began the review, Cayetano had said what he wants to find out are the actual cost and timeline of the project. "Kasi kung hindi, we will not get to the conclusion kung magkano ba talaga at kailan matatapos," he said.

Dizzying project cost and phases

The timeline of the New Senate Building reveals a troubling pattern of escalating costs, with prices being uncovered only at each phase of the project.

In March 2019, the amount of P8.9 billion was awarded for Phase 1 which covered only the core and shell construction.

By January 2023, an additional P2.5 billion was awarded for Phase 2, which included fit-out package and furnishings and tiles, bringing the total building cost to P11.4 billion.

In March 2023, the DPWH reported an additional P7.3 billion for Phase 3, covering "works to complete." The Senate side was to