Workers complete work on the SEA Games cauldron outside the New Clark City Stadium in Tarlac, site of the opening ceremony. (Noslen Sorerbac via SEA GAMES 2019 Enthusiasts Revolution Group Facebook)

A National Artist’s work doesn’t come cheap.

It was the late renowned architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa who was commissioned to shape the controversial giant cauldron that will be one of the main attractions in the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The P50-million cauldron has come under fire because it is supposedly overpriced. Some lawmakers are planning to launch an inquiry into SEA Games expenses after the 30 November to 11 December biennial meet among nearly 10,000 athletes from 11 nations.

No less than President Rodrigo Duterte defended the construction of the giant cauldron, saying there can never be corruption because the government consulted Mañosa, who died in February a few days after he turned 88.

Among the famous works of Mañosa, a University of Santo Tomas graduate who pioneered neo-vernacular architecture in the country, was the Coconut Palace, the official residence of the Vice President.

“Si Mañosa was commissioned by the government to create ‘yung nakita mo ‘yung kaldero ngayon (the cauldron you are seeing today). It is a product of the mind. It is the rendition of the mind of the creator,” the President told reporters on Tuesday night during a briefing in Malacañang.

“Wala kang makuha diyan (You cannot get anything from that.). It is the rendition of the request of government for this national artist to build,” Duterte said

The Chief Executive also turned the tables on Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon, who first questioned the cauldron.

Duterte said the opposition senator was behind the construction of the controversial P700-million Iloilo Convention Center (ICC).

The money used to build the stadium could have been allocated for the construction of more roads in his home province, the President pointed out.

“Ilang kilometro magagawa sa presyo sa coliseum ni (How many kilometers of roads could have been built by the coliseum of Senator Franklin) Drilon? Is it used every day? Well, if it is used and making money, fine. But how many kilometers of those public structures there in Iloilo kung ginamit ‘yun (if it were used) to cement all the highways there?” the President said.

“It can build so many schools. Well, that is debatable, my friend Senator Drilon. I said you have yours and you also can build so many kilometers of what you spent there, public money in your place,” he added.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chair of the House Ways and Means committee, said the cauldron’s cost is part of the P6-billion lump sum for the staging of the Games.

“Imeldific but reasonable because of its grandiosity,” Salceda said.

Drilon questioned the budget used for the construction of the SEA Games cauldron after finding out that it costs P55.9 million—P4.4 million for the design, P13.4 million for the foundation and site construction, P32 million for the installation and P6 million for the wrist tag. He tagged the cauldron as extravagant and unnecessary, saying that somebody should be held accountable for the lavish expenditure.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion, will reportedly light the cauldron.