Archival: CCMC defects not under my watch

CEBU, Philippines — Mayor Nestor Archival has acknowledged that portions of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) were found to be substandard, but stressed that the deficiencies stemmed from work done before his administration and that his priority is to complete the long-delayed hospital in coordination with the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Department of Health (DOH).

In its 2025 annual audit report, COA said the Cebu City Government had spent P1.13 billion on the CCMC project, while the total value of contracts awarded had already reached P1.904 billion.

Despite the amount spent, only Phase I has been completed, while subsequent phases have been beset by delays, deficiencies, and contract terminations. COA found that shortcomings in detailed engineering, unjustified contract extensions, and the absence of key technical documents contributed to major implementation delays and prevented auditors from completing technical evaluation and inspection, in violation of procurement laws and audit regulations.

“Yeah, that's correct. I mean, kani nga report, dili mani karon lang. Sa una pa ni mga katuigan. So, tinoud na. I mean, kung imong tan-awon, 1 billion na kapin… dili pa ni akong term. So, ang ako lang karon, naa na lang gyu’y atong intention to finish this,” Archival said, referring to COA’s December 2025 audit report.

The mayor said Dakay Construction has resumed work on the upper floors about two months ago, but progress slowed after consultants identified defective works.

“In fact, kahibaw ang DOH ani, kahibaw sad ang COA, nga ang ubang mga items nga gipamutang didto, dili mao, substandard. So, considering nga substandard, naay directive si DOH… nga, ‘Ah, you continue what is in there,’ pero kinahanglan testingan ninyo… and then, pahibaw-on ang COA. Ingon ang COA nga, ‘The moment nga naay moy tangtangon, i-document, then pahibaw-a mi,” he added.

COA reported that Phase III expanded from the original 150-day schedule to 1,034 days, including one suspension order that extended the project by 574 days without sufficient documentation.

Although the project was already 91.98 percent complete as of April 2023, auditors said no termination documents were submitted, exposing the project to possible irregularities. COA also computed an overpayment of P1.22 million due to unrecouped mobilization fees.

Phase IV, meanwhile, was terminated in January 2023 during the administration of then mayor Michael Rama after the contractor posted only 19.8 percent accomplishment, with no structural works completed.

The audit also cited major construction deficiencies, including 96 of 101 columns that did not conform to the approved plans, misaligned walls and door openings, pipes installed above bus ducts, and non-functional systems such as air-conditioning units.

COA likewise flagged excess work items outside the approved plans, additional air-conditioning units not included in the bill of quantities, and the absence of testing and commissioning for installed systems.

For Phases I and II, as well as the interior works on the fifth and sixth floors, COA said it could not complete its technical evaluation because the city failed to submit required documents, including detailed cost breakdowns, approved plans, and as-built drawings, despite repeated requests.

The lack of documentation prevented auditors from validating project accomplishments and increased the risk of irregularities and possible loss of government funds.

Archival admitted that removing defective works would entail additional costs and could further delay the project.

“Amo man gyud gi-padad ang suwat ang contractor nga, ‘We, ah, ang inyong gi-trabaho is dili mao, substandard, you need to remove it.’ But in the event dili nila mahimo, di, kita moy mo-tangtang ni ana, but then, again, ma-delay ta gamay.”

Despite the setbacks, the mayor maintained that the project remains on schedule, with completion of the building targeted by the end of the year and equipment installation to follow in early 2027.

“But for me, it's still on, in the track… E-move nato gamay, 45 days, instead of, well, October, whatever. So, we still have, probably, the target within December. And that is mahuman, but the, the first quarter of 2027, mao nang tong pagpamutang sa mga equipment,” Archival said.

He said repairs will be undertaken floor by floor to minimize disruption.

“Ang first, second, third, naay may deperensya. So, karon, i-saka na sad na, no? Trabaho-a na sad, tong first, second, third. So, I asked the contractor nga unahun ang 4th floor, unya ang 3rd floor nga gigamit na karon, isaka, then trabaho-a ang 3rd floor. Nya, pag-human sa 3rd floor, ang 2nd floor, i-saka, okay? Trabaho-a ang 2nd floor, and so on, para, mahuman gyud.”

COA concluded that the project deficiencies reflected significant weaknesses in planning, engineering, documentation, and contract management. It recommended the recovery of overpayments, submission of missing technical documents, clearer delineation of work by project phase, and stricter compliance with procurement rules.

Archival said his administration is documenting all corrective actions and coordinating with COA throughout the rehabilitation process.

“We are documenting everything, coordinating closely with COA, and making sure the hospital is completed properly this time,” ended Archival. — Preciosa Bacalso, FPL (CEBU NEWS)