EDITORIAL - Fast-tracking CCMC construction

There’s really no reason why the ongoing the construction of the new Cebu City Medical Center cannot be fast-tracked. It’s the only city-run hospital that caters mainly to poor patients and the local government should make its immediate construction a priority.

It is really unfortunate that the City Hall, since the old CCMC building was condemned and torn down following the powerful earthquake in 2013, did not vigorously fight for the speedy construction of a new building.

Yes, we understand that the lack of funds was a major hindrance to the project. And it was a pity that the Rama administration had to literally beg for financial donations here and abroad for it to break ground.

Part of the blame should fall on the one undertaking the project. Last month, the city slapped the contractor with a P3-million fine for the latter’s failure to finish the project’s first phase by December last year.

Of course, the city government is also liable for the project’s delay. That the City Hall did not bother to go the extra mile in forcing the contractor to speed up the construction’s pace only means it lacks the sense of urgency.

Look, the opening of the new hospital building has been deferred twice because the contractor failed to finish what should have been done on time. The government’s bureaucratic procurement procedures also contributed to the delay.

Now mayor-elect Edgardo Labella wanted the construction of the new city hospital fast-tracked, saying he will meet with officials of the Department of Engineering and Public Works and the contractor to discuss ways to hasten the project to make CCMC functional as soon as possible.

Well, Labella should move heaven and earth in his effort to hasten the project. He needs to assure those poor patients that their days of having to seek medical assistance in expensive private hospitals are numbered.