On the demolition of CCMC City gov’t awaits COA’s approval

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government is still waiting for the consent of the Commission on Audit (COA) for them to proceed with the demolition of the condemned Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

 Lawyer Joey Daluz, Executive assistant to the mayor, said the requirements as to the demolition of the hospital building along N. Bacalso Avenue and Panganiban street, which was condemned after the damage it acquired due to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, is almost complete.

 â€œThe proceeding is to condemn it (CCMC), apply for demolition order from Office of the Building Official (OBO), inform GSO, and submit it to COA for their inspection and concurrence,” Daluz explained.

 â€œâ€¦ It is now up to COA and we hope they will hurry it up,” Daluz added.

 Earlier, Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos, who was assigned by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to address CCMC concerns, said the demolition would start early this month.

 After the confirmation of COA, Daluz said the city engineering office will be on top of the demolition. However, he said that they have the discretion whether or not the demolition will be done by the city engineer’s office or a private company.

 Yesterday, GSO officer and Committee on Awards member Lorna Lojico already spoke with COA for an inspection of the hospital building, said Daluz. “Pero wa ta kahibalo kanus-a sila (COA) mohatag og report and concurrence, it is really in the balls of COA, ang amo lang mahimo is to follow it up,” Daluz stressed.   

 Meanwhile, the chairman of the Cebu City Committee on Awards is pushing for the approval of the terms and conditions to build a multiple-storey Japanese Retirement Facility worth P1.4 billion at the South Road Properties (SRP).

 The Cebu City Council is set to have an executive session on February 19 to discuss the terms and reference of the lease of the 1.2-hectare portion of SRP intended for the said facility.

The council invited the members and chairman of the awards committee, SRP management office chief Roberto “Bu” Varquez, city legal officials, the appraisal committee and the city planning officer.

“I hope the city council will prioritize this because this is a big help to Cebu particularly in our economic growth,” Daluz said.

Daluz stressed that the project will be the first in the Philippines and in Cebu which is highly “relevant and beneficial to all.”

“This is a very good project that mayor himself has supported. We want them (Japanese investors) to come in because this is money,” he said.

Daluz said that the city’s projected revenues from the taxes, rental rate, and the like will be “doubled or tripled” through economic gain.

He explained that each retiree will spend at least P100,000 a month for their needs and other related consumptions which would revert back to Cebu’s economy.

“Nindot kaayo, lots of benefits like bulk of revenues, boosting our tourism, increase manpower, more job opportunities that would greatly change people’s living,” he explained, adding that the facility after 25 years  of being managed by a private group will be transferred to the city government.

Likewise, Philippine Retirement Authority administration and finance manager and Engr. Melecia Macmac, Primary Properties Corporation project developer both expressed their support on the multi-billion project.—  (FREEMAN)