CCMC’s status baffles City Council

CEBU, Philippines — Confusions beset the City Council on the real status of the construction of Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) after the project engineer and the city engineering office can’t seem to agree on whether or not construction works to finish the building are ongoing despite the absence of a valid contract.

The City Council has questioned the reported ongoing construction activities at the CCMC because there has been no bidding yet to finish the project after the city government and the previous contractor -- M.E. Sicat Construction Inc., /AVECs Corporation—mutually agreed to terminate the contract in November 2022.

 The city government already spent P2 billion for the project, which started 10 years ago, but still far from being finished.

Earlier, Councilor Nestor Archival, Sr. asked for an executive session during a privilege speech to seek clarification from CCMC project director Engr. Robert Varquez and Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) officials on the real status of the project.

But conflicting statements from Varquez and DEPW acting head Engr. Lowelle Corminal fueled the confusions even more.

Varquez, on one hand, said there is no civil works being done at the CCMC. But on the other hand, Corminal claimed they have observed ongoing works with Dakay Construction as the contractor.

Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos questioned the reported construction activities and the presence of Dakay Construction because they have yet to rebid the project.

“Based on observation and stickers on-site, it is Dakay,” Corminal told the members of the City Council, referring to the current civil works at CCMC.

Delos Santos asked Corminal whether the project was already bid out and whether there was a program of work and estimate (POWE) to which the acting city engineer replied, “categorically none for the ongoing construction”.

Varquez explained that there is no physical work done at CCMC at present. According to him, what is being done are just preparatory works to finish the last three floors of the building.

“Actually, there are no physical activities ongoing as far as the building is concerned but preparatory work is already in place like the placing of the tower crane,” said Varquez.

He added that there is no actual construction yet for the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors.

Varquez added that what is ongoing now is the construction of the Operation Smile on the 7th floor.

The council agreed to terminate the session subject to a clarificatory presentation from the concerned officials later.

Donation Drive

Meanwhile, the donation drive to collect funds to finish the CCMC building has so far accumulated P205 million. This was revealed by Dr. Peter Mancao, CCMC chief and president of the Cebu Medical Society.

The CMS was designated by Mayor Michael Rama, before he was suspended, to manage the donated funds. Mancao, however, said that the funds are still pending since the trust funding agreement is still in the works. He clarified none of these have been disbursed yet. — FPL  (CEBU NEWS)