CCMC construction resumes

CEBU, Philippines - The construction of the new Cebu City Medical Center has resumed yesterday after two months of suspension because of some discrepancies.

Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos said the temporary suspension was well spent as contractor, designer and the city government have corrected the "apparent flaws" of the past administration.

"So, in conclusion, presently it is a dream that is not too far to become a reality now. With the collaborative compassion of the Cebu City constituents, the City Council, and this administration headed by Mayor Tommy Osmeña, CCMC will rise," she said.

De los Santos, deputy mayor for health services, said that the city's Office of the Building Official has given the go signal to resume the construction yesterday, adding that the building permit will only follow.

She said the contractor, C.E. Padilla Construction, Inc., has already complied with all the requirements asked by the administration.

Last June 20, City Hall ordered the temporary suspension of the construction of the 10-storey hospital for several discrepancies. De los Santos said the contractor has complied with the requirements such as the mechanical and electrical plans, barangay clearance, complete design and detail of the building, among others.

"Number one, the lifeline structure is very important. During calamities and emergencies, the hospital is most needed. The building, it has to be structurally stable in order to continue to operate. Because of the bad experience we had when it was hit by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake. Instead ang the last building to go is the hospital, mao nuoy una nga that cannot be used anymore," she said.

De los Santos said the city is targeting to finish the first phase by 2017. She said the current administration has focused on the structural integrity of the building so that it could be operational for a lifetime.

"That's a very important thing, the lifeline or the structure. The reason why there was a delay because we dig due diligence on that. Practically, the designers were summoned including the structural, plumbing, electrical, mechanical engineers to check the lifeline structure of the building," she said.

De los santos said the contractor is also considering the suggestion of the mayor to have functional floors instead of just having structural framework for the first phase of the project.

She said they asked the contractor if they can do the upper floors of the project while the first five floors will be operational. She said the executive department is pushing for the approval of the P300 million budget to fund the second phase of the construction under the proposed annual budget for next year.

"It (the temporary hospital in BFP and CITOM buildings) will still exist because we are still making the new. Eventually, that will be transferred to the new building," she said.

The city government ordered the demolition of the old CCMC building after the October 15, 2013 earthquake. The city planned to have a 490-bed capacity hospital.

"It is this administrations' commitment as well as my advocacy to promote the wellness of Cebuanos. Temporary suspension is well spent. We practically covered all these and corrected the apparent flaws and address the important concern which will affect the Cebu City Medical Center during its operational lifetime," de los Santos said. (FREEMAN)