“Piso-piso” drive to rebuild CCMC begins tomorrow

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama said he would start a “piso-piso campaign” tomorrow in the effort to rebuild the earthquake-damaged Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

At the opening of Cebu’s first kiddie spa last night, Rama said he is inviting the Cebuanos to help reconstruct the city hospital.  

“Naay lugar kung asa makahulog ang mga tawo og piso, (There is a place where people could drop their one-peso coins),” Rama said.

The mayor, however, did not disclose where donors can drop their financial donations.

Rama wanted the CCMC demolished after it sustained serious structural damage following Tuesday’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

“Those who want to help will help those in need,” said Rama, who was the guest speaker at the opening of the Little Lamb wellness center in Barangay Kamputhaw last night.

On Thursday, Vice President recommended the closure of CCMC to Rama upon seeing its serious situation.

“The best and most practical option is to demolish the building. It’s just too dangerous if we leave the structure at that considering we are still experiencing aftershocks,” Rama had told City Hall reporters.

The mayor said that he will come up with an executive order to expedite the demolition of CCMC, which was found unfit for occupancy by city and private engineers.

While the 300-bed hospital remains unusable, CCMC will temporarily use the nearby Bureau of Fire Protection compound for its patients. — With a report from Jessa J. Agua/LPM (FREEMAN)