Rama determined to finish CCMC before polls

CEBU, Philippines —  With the first three floors of the Cebu City Medical Center now operational, Vice Mayor Michael Rama is hopeful the entire hospital will be completed before the next elections.

“Being the chairman of the committee on health, being the vice mayor, the partner of Mayor Edgardo Labella, I will continue to take the necessary steps (for its completion). My staff is focusing on it because there is a budget,” said Rama.

A fresh funding of P1 billion was allocated under the approved supplemental budget in July for the completion of the entire structure.

The old CCMC building was demolished in 2014 following a strong earthquake that hit Bohol and parts of Cebu in October 2013.

Rama pushed for the construction of “a modern hospital” in 2015 but the plan was derailed when he lost to former mayor Tomas Osmena in 2016.

Labella, Rama’s running mate during the 2019 elections, promised to finish the hospital building – at least its first three floors – under his first term.

After several delays, CCMC’s first three floors are now already functional.

The first three floors of the new CCMC building were inaugurated last Saturday. The hospital will start accepting patients today. The three floors can accommodate 200 beds.

Even with less than a year to go before the next national and local elections, Rama remains hopeful that the city government will be able to finish the entire structure.

“Dili lang ta mag-istorya kung kaya pa ba sa oras. The positive thing about it, it is moving. When it is moving, there is hope,” said Rama.

Old CCMC as COVID-19 facility

The previously occupied building of CCMC, just across the new CCMC, will then be converted into a COVID-19 facility, Rama said.

“That is the direction. Kahibalo bitaw (ta) sa unpredictability sa COVID,” he added.

Rama said he also objects to housing asymptomatic patients in schools converted as barangay isolation centers, adding that he wants a better place for them. He said the old CCMC site will no longer be renovated but repainted.

Rama said there is a need to open the first three floors to accommodate COVID-19 patients.

Although COVID-19 cases are seeing a decline, Rama said it’s better to be prepared than to be sorry.

“I’m happy nga two digits naman lang ta (daily cases). It’s coming out better, but we want better, to be the best,” he said. — JMD (FREEMAN)