City’s fund drive for CCMC gets students’ support

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government’s “Piso Mo, Hospital Ko” campaign continues to raise funds to aid the construction of the Cebu City Medical Center.

From private organizations, students have now shared for the project as the city government places donation bottles to different schools in the city.

Pardo Elementary School, for example, already raised at least P25,600, said Public Information Office chief Florito “Carlo” Dugaduga, who was tasked to take charge of the donations.

“As in literally halos puro tinag-piso g’yud, gikan g’yud sa bawon sa mga bata. It will be a people’s hospital, hasta mga studyante makaingon g’yud puhon kung matukod na ang ospital nga naa g’yud sila’y piso diha’,” Dugaduga said.

According to the school principal of Pardo Elementary School, Ronald Lleren, student leaders went around classrooms bringing the plastic bottles where students deposited their donations.

“Dasig sad hasta ang mga maestra,” said Lleren.

Around 5,000 students are enrolled at Pardo Elementary School.

“Wa g’yud ko mag-expect na mapuno ang mga galon ug ingon ana kadaghana atong makolekta gikan sa usa pa lang ka-skwelahan,” Dugaduga expressed.

The PIO chief said they are scheduled to also get back the plastic bottles that they have distributed to the rest of the elementary and high schools in the city.

He said they also have donation bottles at 360 Pharmacies, in Casa Verde, Shamrock, Dimsum, and other establishments that expressed support to the city’s fund-raising campaign.

So far, the city government collated nearly P13 million under the Piso Mo, Hospital Ko campaign just from the donations of different individuals and various organizations.

The campaign has once been branded as illegal, particularly by the Ombudsman, but the city government stood firm that it will continue to solicit for donations until a court order stops it from doing so.

The new CCMC building, which is now being constructed, will cost the government at least P1 billion. — (FREEMAN)