City government stops CCMC’s phase 4

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government has cancelled the fourth phase of construction of the new Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) building.

In her official Facebook page, former Cebu City Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos, deputy mayor for health in the previous administration, posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, a copy of the Notice of Cancellation dated May 4, 2021.

The document, which is signed by City Administrator Floro Casas, Jr. by authority of Mayor Edgardo Labella, says the completion and full operation of the CCMC is among the top priorities of the Labella administration but “To achieve it, additional budget is need.”

The FREEMAN tried to reach Casas for confirmation but did not receive a response as of this writing.

The budget approved for the contract amounts to P499,992,843.01.

The notice also states that the budget that has been allocated for Phase 4 of the construction is not sufficient to build the entire hospital and have it fully operational.

“Presently, the Local Finance Committee is deliberating my request for additional One Billion budget for the CCMC as part of the proposed Supplemental Budget No. 1 (SB1). I am confident that the City Council shall approve it,” Casas’ notice reads.

“In view thereof, Notice is hereby issued CANCELLING the above-mentioned project in order to expeditiously complete the construction of the CCMC and to have it fully operational as soon as possible consistent with the thrust of this administration in providing health care services to the people,” the document reads.

It also states that bidders may request for refund of the payment for the purchase of bidding documents and the withdrawal of the bid security for the project.

Labella, in a press conference last May 27, 2021, said there was an ongoing post-qualification.

“Naa man gyod post-qualification requirements so ila panang gi-analyze karon. Gani duna pay plano ang local finance committee nga dungagan og supplemental budget para mahuman gyod ang CCMC,” he said.

“But it is being evaluated by OBO (Office of the Building Official), DEPW (Department of Engineering and Public Works), CCMC admin, and other concerned departments. Once makumpleto na ilang study, mahatag na nato (contract) kay importante and post-qualification,” he added.

This is why de los Santos raised some questions on the matter, and is demanding for transparency.

“Most importantly, CEBUANOS deserve to know the TRUTH.   Who really caused the cancellation of the project? Why was it cancelled?” read a portion of her Facebook post.

The FREEMAN tried to reach Casas for comment but did not receive a response as of this writing.

After hearing about the matter, went to the site for an ocular inspection Wednesday.

“That is what I was told but that has to be looked into because right now I have two communications from two contractors,” Rama said.

“They brought some concerns of which I would like my staff like the civil engineering… and of course some personalities to get into it so that we would be able to have a fair and sound judgment,” he added.

Rama said he was not informed about the termination of the construction before he assumed as acting.

Labella was on leave until June 30.

Rama will return as vice mayor today, July 1, 2021, but said he will continue to look into the matter.

Reopening

The new building of CCMC on Barangay Pahina Central was inaugurated partially on December 28, 2020 even without inspection by the Office of the Building Official (OBO).

Councilor Jerry Guardo, head of the City Council’s committee on infrastructure, said at that time that the city government allotted P500 million for the completion of the remaining floors by 2021.

Labella has said the developments at the hospital will be done gradually.

Labella said during the inauguration that the city aims to complete the 10-story building in 18 months and P1.3 billion was needed to finish the construction.

When Labella assumed the mayorship in 2016, the city has spent P566 million for Phase 1 of construction, P300 for Phase 2, and P100 for Phase 3.

The contractors of the project are CE Padilla, BF Garay Construction, and Charlz Construction.

The hospital was supposed to open in early 2020 but this was cancelled after the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

It was Michael Rama who was mayor in 2014 who ordered the old CCMC building demolished after it incurred massive damage during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Central Visayas in 2013.

Construction of the new CCMC building began in 2015. — JMO (FREEMAN)