New CCMC building: City demolishing 10 houses to avoid construction delay

CEBU, Philippines - To avoid hitches and delay in the construction of the hospital, at least 10 houses located at the back of site of the new Cebu City Medical Center are set to be removed by the city government.

City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete said removal of the structures will pave the way for heavy equipment to penetrate the area.

“This is not a setback, but it’s an implementation concern. Kahibawo man ta nga likod sa CCMC dunay settlers. Some of them nipilit sa (fire) wall. Ang bag-ong footprint sa CCMC, it necessitates nga moabot ang equipment didto og install, so naapil sila,” he said.

Poblete said the demolition of the existing wall means removing the houses attached to it.

He said he already met the affected families of the move last September 6.

“They (families) want to have assurances pa. Nag-request pud og fee gamay ba. But, I don’t know kun asa mi makaigo ana (financial assistance) sa contractor,” he said.

Poblete, who also heads the Bids and Awards Committee for the hospital project, said the houses are on a city-owned lot.

C.E. Padilla Construction Incorporated, a Manila-based construction firm won the June bidding with a bid of P514.98 million and started construction works in July.

“Nakahibawo sab ang families nga dili gyud ilaha ang lot. But, ang atoa ani is we have to have a win-win solution for them and for the project nga naigo,” he said.

Poblete said the wall will be reconstructed once the foundation of the hospital will be finished.

“As public implementer, I don’t dwell on that policy,” he said when asked if the families can rebuild their houses once the wall will be reconstructed, adding that he and the contractor are meeting the affected families on September 13.

If they could not resolve the matter, he said, he will ask the city’s Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor to join in addressing the concerns of the families.

As to the construction of the hospital, Poblete said the contractor is ahead of its timeline.

“We are now pile driving to set the foundation. Hopefully, mahuman ang piling by September 17. But, kun dili ni ma-resolve (clearing of the affected houses), maka-apektar gyud ni,” he said.

Sought for comment, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said the city should provide shelter to the affected families.

While stressing that construction of the CCMC building should not be hampered, Labella said the families should not be displaced.

He also wanted DWUP to check the condition and the circumstances of the families. — (FREEMAN)