Rama flying to US to seek funding for new hospital
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is leaving for the United States on March 17 to solicit funds from the board of governors of Operation Smile for the proposed new Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) building.
Rama will make a presentation of the hospital reconstruction program hoping to get more than the P100 million pledged by Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, one of Operation Smile’s governors.
The city government has so far raised P13 million for the project that is estimated to cost P1.5 billion.
Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos, head of the CCMC reconstruction ad hoc committee, said the city needs P60 million to P70 million for Phase 1.
Rama led the ceremonial demolition of the old hospital building on February 24, when the city celebrated its 77th Charter Day.
Delos Santos said no city government funds are being spent for the demolition since the city engineering office is handling it.
A friend of the mayor, whom she did not identify, provided the heavy equipment.
“We have to be realistic. We cannot do this on our own,” she said.
Delos Santos said the city has to level the old hospital building to “ground zero” before they can start reconstruction.
While the demolition is ongoing, the CCMC ad hoc committee is also working to comply with requirements for hospital’s site development plan.
Phase 1 of the project will include the realignment of Panganiban Street relocating it to the back of the old hospital building.
A four-story building estimated to cost P60 million to P70 million will be built on the area to accommodate the CCMC nursing school and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
A temporary city hospital was set up on a portion of the BFP building located across the old CCMC and continues to accommodate indigent patients.
Once completed, delos Santos said the city will proceed with phase 2 which is the six-story hospital building and the creation of a command center to integrate all of the city’s emergency services.
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