CCMC’s defects: Who pays for fix? Councilors demand answers
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Who should pay to fix reported construction defects at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) remains a key question as two city councilors seek urgent repairs, a review of contractors’ responsibilities and a breakdown of the work and costs involved.
Councilors Harold Kendrick Go and David Tumulak have authored four resolutions up for discussion during the Cebu City Council’s regular session on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026.
Their proposals aim to identify which problems need immediate attention, whether the city may require contractors from earlier construction phases to pay for repairs, how much the fixes could cost and whether the problems could affect the hospital’s Phase 5 completion.
READ: COA on city hospital: Poor work, delay mar ₱1.9B project
Urgent repairs, patient safety
One proposed resolution seeks a list of urgent repairs and temporary safety measures within 15 days of receipt, covering critical systems such as backup generators, elevators, electrical panels, grounding and fire protection equipment.
The assessment would identify areas or equipment that may need shutdown, restricted use, or backup power, as well as cases that may need plans for transferring patients.
According to the proposed resolutions, the move follows a September 29 City Council discussion in which engineer Brian Pasilan presented findings from an electrical audit reportedly conducted in 2025.
The reported problems included water entering the electrical equipment room, non-functioning backup power equipment, deficient electrical connections, grounding concerns, and fire pump wiring issues.
READ: CCMC finish line held hostage to old, unfixed defects – contractor
The discussion also raised concerns about plumbing, mechanical systems and fire protection equipment installed during earlier construction phases, as well as missing or inconsistent technical plans and testing records.
The proposed measures include promptly verifying the problems and determining the course of action that will protect patients and hospital personnel.
Who should pay for the repairs?
A second proposed resolution seeks a review of contracts and records to find out whether earlier construction underwent proper inspection.
If approved, the City Legal Office would work with the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) and the City Accountant to determine who may be responsible and whether authorities may require contractors nto fix the problems at their own expense.
Possible actions include making contractors honor warranties, claiming money from performance guarantees, recovering costs, pursuing administrative action or referring the matter to the proper authorities.
A third proposed resolution seeks a detailed repair plan within 30 calendar days of receipt, identifying the work needed, estimated quantities and costs, work schedule, funding sources and purchasing procedures.
READ: CCMC contract phases under review over lack of formal termination
The plan would also explain whether existing contracts or warranties cover the repairs, or the city would need to allocate additional funds and seek City Council approval.
The proposed resolutions cite a preliminary estimate of ₱24 million to ₱30 million to correct reported problems with the bus duct, a system that carries electricity through the building, but the amount still needs independent verification.
The city has spent ₱1.13 billion on CCMC, according to the Commission on Audit’s (COA) 2025 Annual Audit Report, which also flagged missing technical documents and unexplained contract extensions.
How will the defects affect Phase 5?
In a previous CDN Digital report, Dakay Construction and Development Corp. told councilors during a Sept. 29 executive session that its Phase 5 contract did not cover defects from earlier construction work.
Principal engineer Ricky Dakay said the unresolved issues could affect his firm’s ability to complete its assigned work because the hospital’s systems need to function together.
READ: ‘Substandard’ CCMC works delay completion, Archival confirms
Dakay said the company could not yet determine the cost of further repairs, while Department of Health and COA instructions required proper documentation before the city could remove any components identified as problematic.
A fourth proposed resolution seeks an update from public works and engineering department and the Phase 5 contractor about which work can safely continue, which activities remain frozen given earlier installations and whether the project’s scope or schedule needs changes.
The proposal asks the city mayor to submit an initial report within 15 days of receipt as well as monthly updates pending the implementation of the safety and repair plan.
Updates pending
The proposed resolutions also state that the council has yet to receive the complete audit records, approved plans, contracts, changes to contract terms, inspection and acceptance documents, test results and responses from the concerned offices and contractors.
If the council approves the resolution, they will send copies to the appropriate city offices, concerned contractors and relevant City Council committees for their information and appropriate action.
The proposals do not automatically authorize contracts or spending, and they do not establish that any person or contractor is at fault.
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