Garcia to meet with Guba hospital contractor

CEBU, Philippines — Acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia is set to meet with the contractor of the Guba Community Hospital to be apprised on the delay in the construction and the absence of building permit.

Garcia had already met with Dr. Peter Mancao, officer-in-charge of Cebu City Medical Center, and City Health Officer Dr. Daisy Villa. Guba Community Hospital is an extension of CCMC.

The acting mayor said he immediately met with Mancao and Villa after he ordered an investigation into the delay of the completion of Guba Hospital. During the meeting, Garcia was told that the contractor was having problems in the building and occupancy permits.

On Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the Office of the Building Office (OBO) confirmed that Guba Hospital did not have  a building permit to resume the construction hence it was issued a notice of illegal construction and work stoppage order.

“Gipaningkamot unta nila sa contractor, kay ang contractor may mo-apply ana, although the funds come from the Department of Health, the contractor is contracted out for the rehabilitation of the Guba Hospital,” Garcia said.

According to the acting mayor, it is the duty and obligation of the contractor to apply for the necessary permits.

On December 5, 2023, Alsher Construction explained to the OBO why they have not secured the necessary permits. According to the contractor, it is not them who started the project. In fact, they were the fourth contractor to work on the project.

They said that in 2021, they were given a resumption order to continue the construction activities without a building permit.  It was also in the same letter that they had assured that they would be complying with the application permit.

Last March 6, 2024, the CLO issued a resolution urging the contractor to comply with the building permit, anew, alongside the occupancy permit from OBO within 60 days. — /FPL (FREEMAN)