MANILA — After the bickering between Senators Nancy Binay and Alan Peter Cayetano in a hearing on July 3, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called for two to sit down with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and discuss the nitty gritty about the new Senate building.

The said building became controversial after Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the cost drastically rose from P8.9 billion to P23 billion.

“Dapat lang ma-brief ang body kung saan pumupunta ‘yung pondo at ano ang dapat gawin…Sang-ayon ako na maghanap tayo ng paraan para makatipid, maghanap tayo ng paraan para maging mas reasonable ‘yung cost,” Gatchalian said.

(The body should be briefed where the fund is being used and what should be done…I agree that we should find a way to save money, find a way to make the cost more reasonable.)

He added that there was probably just a misunderstanding between Binay and Cayetano.

“Mga kaibigan ko ‘yan…Ang payo ko sa kanila mag-usap nang mabuti alam ko naman sila ang intensyon nila para sa ikabubuti ng Senado doon tayo mag-focus at mag-usap sila alam ko naman good hearted sila.”

(They are my friends…My advise to them is to talk, I know that they only want what’s good for the Senate, let us focus on that and they should talk, I know they are good hearted.)

Gatchalian believes Binay did her best to finish the building so that the Senate will be able to transfer.

He said Taguig City was the chosen location for the new Senate building since it is close to the airport and will be more accessible to resource persons who are coming in from the provinces.