CCMC tops green rating

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) has earned four Green Stars under the Department of Health’s (DOH) Green Viability Assessment (GVA), making it the only local government unit-run hospital in Central Visayas to receive the program’s highest distinction.

The DOH-Central Visayas validated CCMC’s rating with a score of 91.63 percent, recognizing the hospital’s efforts to maintain a safe, sustainable and climate-resilient healthcare environment.

The GVA is a nationwide DOH initiative that assesses health facilities based on their environmental sustainability and resilience, including energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation and disaster preparedness.

The program aims to strengthen health systems against environmental and climate-related risks while promoting facilities that protect patients, healthcare workers, communities and the environment.

CCMC earned its four-star rating despite challenges in infrastructure with its facility remained unfinished.

The hospital is currently a Level 2 DOH-accredited facility with a 225-bed capacity. It has undergone phased construction since its old building was demolished in 2014 following the Bohol earthquake.

Despite delays in the completion of its new 10-story structure, CCMC has continued to pursue accreditation upgrades and sustainability initiatives.

The hospital received three Green Stars in 2025, with its latest rating reflecting continued progress in integrating sustainable practices into healthcare delivery.

Hospital officials credited the recognition to the collective efforts of its medical staff, administrators and support personnel, stressing that the achievement is not an endpoint but a challenge to further improve the hospital’s systems and infrastructure.

For Cebu City, the four-star recognition reinforces CCMC’s position as a leader in sustainable healthcare delivery and sets a benchmark for other LGU-run hospitals in the region.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo City (CPH-Bogo) also received recognition from the DOH after earning a three-Green-Star rating on September 2, 2026.

The three-star rating indicates above-average practices in efforts to develop a green, safe, sustainable and climate-resilient health facility.

"This milestone reflects the leadership of Dr. Zoraida Yurango and the cooperation of the entire CPH-Bogo family. Healthcare is not only about treating illness. It is also about creating facilities that protect our patients, our healthcare workers, our communities, and our environment," Capitol Piso Health Consultant Dr. Nikki Baricuatro Catalan said.

The assessment covers several areas, including governance, energy and water efficiency, sanitation and hygiene, health-care waste management, environmental resilience, site and material sustainability, and indoor environmental quality.

Among those who served as focal persons for the assessment were Chief Nurse and infection prevention and control focal person Ciribiribin Logarta; Assistant Chief Nurse Marphy Limalima; Pollution Control Officer and health-care waste management and safety focal person Engr. Jerry Mangubat; disaster risk reduction and management in health manager Stephen Arcay; and administrative officer Milgen Rañises.

The DOH’s Green and Safe Health Facilities initiative promotes health facilities that not only deliver quality healthcare services but also protect patients, health workers, communities and the environment through sustainable and climate-resilient practices. (CEBU NEWS)