CEBU, Philippines — The inaction of the Cebu Medical Society (CMS) has prompted Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia to explore legal remedies following the organization’s lack of response regarding donated funds intended to complete the remaining floors of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).
Garcia, who is seeking election as mayor in 2025, disclosed this action as he stressed on how he wants to prioritize the completion of the disputed CCMC project.
During The Freeman’s Know Your Candidate segment on Tuesday, Garcia outlined his plans and platforms for the upcoming elections.
Among his top priorities is the CCMC, a project that has remained unfinished for a decade. Garcia noted that progress has been stagnant for the past three years. While bidding for the third to sixth floors has been completed—covering interior work—concerns remain about the funding for the remaining floors.
The previous administration had initiated a donation drive through the CMS to help fund the construction. However, Garcia revealed that despite repeated calls for the CMS to transfer the funds to the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), no action has been taken.
“Asa man ning kwartaha? Naa ba gyud kaha ni Cebu Medical Society? Why will they not turn it over to the City of Cebu?” Garcia questioned.
He suggested that if CMS refuses to turn over the funds, they could instead return the donations to their original donors, who could then personally contribute to the city government.
“Hangtod karon, wa jud, it’s been months and months,” Garcia said.
According to Garcia, CCMC head Dr. Peter Mancao has confirmed that the donated funds exist. Mancao reported to the city council that the funds amount to P205 million and are currently held in a bank account under the CMS’s name.
Due to CMS’s inaction, Garcia said he is considering issuing a demand letter to formally request the turnover of the funds.
Meanwhile, the executive branch has allocated P210 million for CCMC’s construction in Supplemental Budget (SB) 1, which is currently under review by the council.
On the legal front, Garcia emphasized that the Cebu City Government has the right to demand the funds, given that they were intended for public service. However, he said the City Legal Office is currently studying possible legal remedies.
“For them to be compelled to either turn the money over to us, kami nalay mutrabaho,” Garcia said.
He stressed that he has consistently requested CMS to reroute the donations, but no action has been taken. To prevent further delays, Garcia has scheduled a meeting with the new CMS board, with the legal proceedings being handled by the City Legal Office.
Garcia's political career
Garcia assumed the mayoralty in May 2024 after then-Mayor Michael Rama was dismissed from government service by the Office of the Ombudsman for nepotism.
He described his unplanned takeover as “overwhelming” due to the drastic shift in responsibilities from being a legislator to an executive. Garcia has been in government service since 2016, serving as a councilor before being elected vice mayor in 2022.
Coming from a prominent political family, Garcia said his desire for public service was influenced by his father, Alvin Garcia, who also served as Cebu City mayor. He started his political career at the barangay level.
“And I really think that I got it also from him growing up, nga nakita sad gyud nako nga grabe kaayo iyang pagtabang sad sa atong mga kaigsuonan,” Garcia said.
While he never initially planned to become mayor, Garcia said his commitment to public service remains steadfast, regardless of the position he holds.
Garcia further said he is ready to take on another mandate, citing the advantage of being from the “younger generation.”
“Fresh ideas, a fresh look at things. You can look at things from a different perspective and apply what you have learned to the problems of the city of Cebu,” Garcia said.
Other priority projects
Apart from the CCMC, Garcia identified flooding as another key issue he aims to address if elected.
He also expressed openness to exploring cable cars and monorails as additional modes of mass
transportation in Cebu City as traffic management is another concern Garcia plans to tackle.
Recognizing the need for an efficient transit system, Garcia voiced support for the ongoing Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project. He also shared his willingness to engage in Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to fund major infrastructure projects.
“At least na-identify na nato ang problema, nga butangan na nato og solusyon,” he said.
Hopes for strong political alliance
Garcia acknowledged that as mayor, collaboration with the legislative branch is crucial. During his term as vice mayor, he did not face significant challenges in passing measures since his party held the majority.
However, he noted that recent political shifts have altered the dynamics. He was previously aligned with Partido BARUG and Partido KUSUG, but the coalition has since fractured.
“Karon man gud nga nagkabungkag, I will have to be honest and frank about it, lahi nasad ilang direction. Imbis na muabag sila, mubabag naman nuon,” Garcia said.
With this, he hopes to work with council members who will support his policies and initiatives.
Garcia said he aims to use his past ten months in office as a benchmark for his 2025 mayoral campaign, hoping to build on his track record to secure a full term. —ATO (CEBU NEWS)