The Department of Public Works and Highways appeared to have blinked in its tit-for-tat with City Mayor Dan Neri Lim. District Engineer Celestino Adlaon of the first highway engineering district softened his hardline stance last week when the city mayor remained steadfast in his decision not to carry out a stoppage order involving the completion project of the unfinished Agora. Adlaon and Mayor Lim was locked in a tug-of-war last week after the former ordered the halt of completion works of the Agora. Upon learning of Adlaon's decision, Mayor Lim refused to carry out the order and directed construction hands belonging to the J.L. Apostol Enterprises to go on with their job. The J.L. Apostol Enterprises won the contract to rehabilitate the Agora under a Build-Operate- Transfer scheme. In giving in to the mayor's unyielding position,.

Engr. Adlaon said he set a schedule for the turnover of the unfinished edifice which had since become an urban eyesore. In defending his position not to stop the completion works, Mayor Lim said for 15 years the building remains a monstrous monument of urban blight adding that now that he is set to complete it, the DPWH has the temerity to issue a stoppage order. According to Engr. Adlaon, after determining the various funding sources poured into the project, the building will be turned over to the city. A total of P35 million was already consumed by the project but as it stands now, the amount was only good for a hallowed structure. The breakdown of the money released for the building are P20 million from CDF of the late Cong. Venice Borja Agana; P5 million from President GMA's calamity fund and another P10 million from the CDF of Cong. Edgar Chatto.