Operations unhampered

CEBU, Philippines — Following discussions on the ongoing construction of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), its chief of hospital has assured that operations will not be hampered even with the temporary halt in construction of the hospital.

Doctor Peter Mancao said construction for the eighth, ninth, and 10th floors of the building later on would be overseen by Engineer Ricky Dakay.

Previously, Mancao said that the resumption of construction of CCMC began last March 2024 and its expected completion is before this year ends.

Acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, however, called for a rebidding and halted the construction again after a call by the City Council. Mancao, though, said the works being done were just minor details.

"Gihunong naman, gi-hold osa. Kay karon, mao man nay gusto ni acting mayor, ang sobra ana (construction) ug asa ana," Mancao said.

He said the hospital has already functioned despite the unfinished portions, particularly the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh floors, and the unconstructed eight to 10th floors.

"Nahuman na ang shell bali for the seven floors, ang finishing nalang... Ang seventh floor kay assigned man na sa Operation Smile so ang operation smile ang nag-finish sa kanang 7th floor," said Mancao.

He clarified that the private funding donated through the Cebu Medical Society (CMS) are for the construction of the eighth to 10th floors.

To recall, CMS, a non-profit organization, has been designated as the one that would  manage the donations that private entities have pledged to complete the hospital building until the tenth floor".

  This was after Mayor Michael Rama, who is currently serving a preventive suspension, received pledges from various private entities during a series of marketing investment missions last 2022 in exchange for naming rights to a floor of the hospital building.

 Mancao explained that the source of funds for the construction and finishing the seven floors of the building is still part of the approved amount during the administration of now-deceased mayor Edgardo Labella.

 As for the target completion within the year, Mancao said he is still positive that it can still be met adding that the fourth to the seventh floors just need minor works.

 "In a way, ang hospital is still functioning man karon, except nga kuwang lang gyud og accommodation. But ga-function na siya tanan, credited man gani siya as Level 2 (hospital by the Department of Health)," he said.

He said they are working for CCMC s Level 3 accreditation.

"Ang mga previous contractors naa silay mga ginagmay nalang kaayo nga gipangtrabaho ba, naa silay (deliverables) pa sa city," he said of the ongoing works at the CCMC building.

"Pero wala gyud tay kanang contractor gyud nga na-hire," he added.

The City Council last week urged Acting Mayor Garcia to temporarily hold the rebidding for the construction of CCMC, following concerns raised over funding transparency, until such time everything is made clear to the body.

 In line with this, the council requested the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) to submit a comprehensive accomplishment report on the initial construction way back in 2015, and the phases it has undergone.

 The body also requesting the city budget officer to provide the council with a detailed accounting of the funds spent by the city for the CCMC construction, including the funds from various donors.

 Mancao welcomed the call for a rebidding and the gesture to iron out the budgetary issues so that resumption of the construction would already go smoothly.

 "Everything is taken cared of...diretso-diretso na. Mas maayo pa tingali na nga all complaints are solved naa daan before magpadayon... At least karon, klaro na unsay kuwang," he said.