City hires former Capitol administrator as consultant

Cebu City acting mayor Michael Rama has appointed former provincial administrator Frank Japson as the city’s consultant on the Cebu City Medical Center.

Rama announced Japson’s appointment in a press conference yesterday, saying Japson’s first priority is maintaining security and cleanliness of the 48-year-old hospital. 

Japson was provincial administrator during the term of then Governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña. His wife, current City Councilor Leah Ouano- Japson, was also Osmeña’s private secretary.

Rama said Japson will be working closely with another consultant on CCMC, Dr. Rodolfo Roman Bigornia, who have been tasked to find means to improve the hospital’s medical services, especially the services to indigent patients.

Rama, who is strongly opposing the closure and sale of the city-run hospital, yesterday assured the council is willing to allocate more funds for CCMC if the hospital’s budget for the year would be fully spent before the end of 2009.

The city allocates P139 million for CCMC every year.

During an inspection a few days ago, Rama observed that many of the hospital’s glass windows are already broken while the concrete fence at the back of the hospital also needs repair.

Rama, however, did not heed the suggestion to repaint the CCMC. He also disagreed with the practice of relying on dogs to secure the hospital premises.

 “Kon mogasto ta og para papintal, mahimong buling-bulingan ra gihapon. Kon pun-an nato karon ang budget, basin og pangawaton lang,” he said.

The best thing to do, Rama said, is to teach CCMC officials, including other city employees, to change their attitude not only in rendering service to patients but also in taking care of the hospital itself.

Mayor-on-leave Tomas Osmeña earlier said he is willing to sell CCMC if the interested buyer would, in turn, be willing to shoulder the termination fees of all regular employees. — Rene U. Borromeo/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)