CEBU, Philippines - Over a year after it was launched, the “Piso Mo Hospital Ko” campaign of the Cebu City government has already gathered 16.3 million.
Of the P16.3 million, P2.5 million was raised by foreign communities and entities, such as a P1-million donation from Vriendschapshand of Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands; P460,0009 from Kaohsiung City in Taiwan, P600,90000 from Xiamen, among others.
City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said the amount is deposited under the city’s trust fund.
The movement was launched on Oct. 21, 2013 following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that ruined the city-run hospital. The 52-year-old building was subsequently demolished last February.
The total amount raised, however, is still not enough for the construction of a 10-storey building amounting to P1.5 billion.
The fundraising campaign has ended last Monday.
Mayor Michael Rama, though, said he won’t stop begging for donations to raise the projected P1.5 billion.
“The mayor would not mind if others will belittle me as professional beggar as long as our hospital will rise again for our poor constituents. When I start, I will proceed and I will never stop,” he said.
CCMC hospital chief Dr. Gloria Duterte also encouraged the would-be-donors to help the city with its cause to rebuild the city hospital.
“Let us continue helping because your piso contribution will give comfort to our needy constituents through our soon to rise medical facility,” she said.
Moreover, Rama also thanked those who help raised P16.3 million but pitied those who did not extend any aid.
“It’s not all about the movement but about the oneness and togetherness everyone showed during the entire undertaking. For those who opted not to help, you miss the opportunity in bringing back our hospital and I pity you for that,” he said.
Rama said further he is not in a hurry to rebuild the hospital owing to pending issues, when sought for the timeline of the project.
“I am not in a hurry on having it started unless issues attached are already settled and doubts closed. I don’t want to start a building with people suspecting,” he said.
The mayor was trying to point out the issue of the lowest winning bidder who was post-disqualified to undertake the CCMC project for allegedly being “non-responsive” after the Bids and Awards Committee found out that the documents submitted contained “discrepancies and false information.”
Likewise, the issue on the P1.9 million worth of scrap metal from the demolished from CCMC, which was obtained by a Manila-based contractor as payment for the demolition project. (FREEMAN)