Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos says expert assessment is needed to convince Mayor Tomas Osmeña of the viability of sustaining the Cebu City Medical Center.
EXPERTS in the construction industry will be called in to assess any inadequacies in the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos said yesterday.
Delos Santos, who was assigned to handle the CCMC by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, said they need the recommendations from the construction experts since they cannot afford to commit any mistake in the hospital project.
Last June 17, construction work for the new CCMC was suspended after then acting mayor Margot Osmeña discovered that the hospital doesn’t have any building and business permits.
Delos Santos said work on the hospital cannot resume until all signatures including the mayor’s, are affixed on the project’s documents.
“This is something very big — a huge project something we just can’t affix our signature then and there. This is new to this administration and to Mayor Tommy,” she said.
However, she clarified that Osmeña already greenlighted the resumption of the hospital project.
“We don’t mind the project being delayed as long as we are doing it correctly and following the right process,” she said.
The councilor said she presented 270 plans for the project to the mayor and told him about its present condition.
Delos Santos said Osmeña is just waiting for evaluation from experts on the CCMC’s current situation.
“The mayor also wanted a clear picture on this matter, that’s why we really sought independent persons who can evaluate it,” Delos Santos said.
For now Delos Santos said the CCMC project received approval from the Zoning Board Administrator, and the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) board did not present any objections towards it.
“Engr. Josefa Ylanan from the Office of the Official Building (OBO) told me that the contractor (C.E. Padilla Construction, a Manila-based construction firm) already complied with the requirements,” she said.
Delos Santos told reporters that the project’s plans were forwarded to the mayor’s office.
“He told me to give him a clear picture. All eyes are on this construction, and all eyes are on the success of this hospital and I hope that many will be able to see it,” delos Santos said./UP Cebu Intern Morexette Marie Erram