Mayor seeks PAGCOR’s help to rebuild CCMC

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has tapped the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation for the reconstruction of the city-run hospital, which is expected to start next month.

Yesterday, Rama, together with PAGCOR chairman and chief executive officer Christino Naguiat Jr., visited the site along Natalio Bacalso Avenue corner Panganiban Street where the ten-storey Cebu City Medical Center will soon rise.

Rama asked the PAGCOR chairman to help fund the construction and expansion of CCMC after the original structure was severely damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in October last year. The mayor presented to Naguiat the current and previous scenario of CCMC.

“We went there because to see is to believe. I had the presentation of the audio-visual under the heat of the sun right there where the site the hospital is soon to rise. I need everybody’s help (to rebuild CCMC),” Rama told reporters.

According to Rama, Naguiat is very willing to help CCMC but no specific aid was discussed as of the moment.

Rama has earlier tapped business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan; the Operation Smile, a non-government  organization; and the Philippine Visayas Society in Nevada, USA, among others for the rebuilding of the public hospital.

The medical facility, which will be built by phases, is set to accommodate 450-500 beds. It will be constructed on a 5,328 square-meter lot and would cost P1.48 billion.

Next month, a five-storey building with a 250-bed capacity will be built first.

The new CCMC hospital is seen to be operational by 2016 or a year earlier than the projected date of operation. —/NSA (FREEMAN)