Construction of new CCMC starts in July

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government will build first a five-storey hospital at the corner of N. Bacalso Ave. and Panganiban St. in July, months ahead of the projected start of construction.

A P300-million supplemental budget that the council has approved would be utilized as seed money to begin the construction. 

The new P1.5-billion Cebu City Medical Center, planned to reach 10-storys, would be built by phases. It would have a capacity of 450 to 500 beds.

City Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos, who heads the CCMC ad hoc committee, said there is an urgency to build a city-run hospital so the city could cater to more disadvantaged Cebuanos seeking affordable yet with quality medical care.

With a 25-bed capacity, the five-storey hospital building would be operational by 2016, which would be a year earlier than the projected date of operation.

“We are seeing more of a modification and not a deviation of what we want to accomplish. We will commence building first a five-storey complete and compact hospital,” Mayor Michael Rama told a press conference.

The city government will no longer implement the realignment of Panganiban St. because it entails the use of more funds.

Arch. Mico Espina, who made the site development plan of the new CCMC, yesterday said the design has a “splash of modernism.”

“Design elements from the old CCMC building were incorporated in the façade to inculcate a feeling of familiarity among users, especially the staff who considered it (hospital) as their second home. This is paying tribute to the old CCMC,” he said.

According to the hospital plan, the new CCMC would feature a hanging garden, spacious conference and function rooms, parking areas situated at the hospital’s ground and upper floors, modernized emergency medical services, security office, mortuary, commercial spaces, supply storage, housekeeping, workshops, chapel, among others. 

Marc Canton, civic group Movement for Livable Cebu convenor, said they would closely monitor the project for it not to be politicized.

“MLC supports the rebuilding of the new city hospital. We will be vigilant to ensure that the rebuilding of this much needed structure and service to the people will come as a result of various sectors coming together and that it will not be victimized by petty politics,” he said. (FREEMAN)