Mayor Osmeña urged not to sell city hospital

CEBU - Members of several urban poor associations yesterday trooped to the Cebu City Hall to ask Mayor Tomas Osmeña not to sell the Cebu City Medical Center.

But Ramie Inopiquez, president of Panaghugpong Kadamay, said following their talk with Osmeña, they understand the position of the mayor on why he is bent on selling the city hospital.

“Naay ‘sab mga bug-at nga rason ang mayor nganong mas gusto na lang niyang ibaligya ang CCMC sama sa mismanagement sa maong hospital,” Inopiquez said.

During their meeting, the mayor explained to the groups that nothing is final yet as to the sale of CCMC although some interested buyers have already started assessing and appraising the hospital.

However, urban poor association officials appealed to the mayor not to pursue with the sale of the CCMC.

They said the CCMC is the only hospital in the city where the poor depend for treatment for a cheaper rate.

“Pero nakasabot mi sa baruganan sa mayor. But naghinaut lang gihapon mi nga adunay laing option nga buhaton ang mayor gawas sa pagbaligya sa maong hospital,” Inopiquez said.

Osmeña had earlier announced his plan to sell the CCMC. But he said he would only allow the sale if the city government can make a sale of any lots of the South Road Properties.

The mayor’s decision came after one of his staunch critics, former Tinago barangay captain and now barangay councilman Joel Garganera, claimed that the CCMC is just one of the casualties as the city plunges into bankruptcy because of the SRP loan.

Osmeña said he does not want to put the city on a weak position in negotiating with the sale of the city hospital, as it would appear that the city is hungry for funding.

The city government is allocating P140 million a year for the CCMC but the mayor admitted that he was already “pissed-off” about the way the hospital is being managed.

The mayor, who had been disgruntled over the poor services of the hospital, said several complaints have already been raised by the public, especially on the arrogance of some hospital personnel towards their patients. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM  (THE FREEMAN)