Non-utilization of CCMC equipment: Construction delay blamed

CEBU, Philippines — The non-utilization of P83.61-million worth of equipment at the Cebu City Medical Center CCMC) that the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged in its examination of City Hall transactions in 2023 was due to the delay in the hospital’s construction.

In a press conference the other day, Cebu City acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said the purchase of the equipment, which include those purchased in 2020 yet, was in anticipation of the full use of all 10 floors of the hospital structure.

"We were already anticipating it (CCMC building completion) at that time, maong nag order na ang City Government during the time of late mayor Edgar Labella; but three years down the road wa pa man nahuman, maong the equipment wa sad mabutang," Garcia said.

Garcia, who took over as chief executive of Cebu City last May 10 after Mayor Michael Rama was placed under a six-month preventive suspension, said it could not be anticipated at that time of purchase of the equipment.

In its annual audit report, COA said it conducted an onsite inspection last March 14 and discovered the unused equipment, which include a delivery room light, anesthesia machine, infant incubator, harmonic instrument set, and a digital radio fluoroscopy system, among others.

Last March 14, 2024, the Audit Team conducted an onsite inspection at the CCMC building.

Garcia said the City Government is currently fast-tracking the completion of the third to the fourth floor of the CCMC building so the equipment could already be used.

He is also checking if the equipment could instead be put to good use at the Guba Community Hospital, especially since its extension building would already be open this Monday, July 29.(CEBU NEWS)