Cebu City Hall urged to work with DOH in raising funds

A TOP health official called on the Cebu City government to coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) in funding construction of a new city hospital.

“DOH has lots of funds for infrastructure because it is one of the top priorities of the department,” said Dr. Vicente Belizario Jr., executive director of the National Institute of Health in an interview.

Belizario said Cebu City Hall’s “Piso Mo, Hospital Ko,” fund-raising campaign would reach its P1.5 billion target amount faster if the DOH is on board.

The campaign has raised more than P8 million since it was launched last Oct. 21.

Pledges have been made but the city needs actual funds.

The Cebu City Council yesterday passed a resolution asking Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano to help secure the immmediate release of P700 million which he promised to help source from the national government to build a new Cebu City Medical Center and rehabilitate the Pasil Fish Market.

Cayetano visited Cebu last Saturday and inspected the fish market, said said Councilor Gerry Carillo, sponsor of the resolution.

Cayetano promised to help source P700 million from the P40 billion national outlay for post-Yolanda and post-earthquake affected areas in the Visayas.

Mayor Michael Rama suggested building a new CCMC on a three-hectare lot in the South Road Properties (SRP) near the San Pedro Calungsod chapel.

His predecessor, former congressman Tomas Osmeña said this proposal should first be studied because other city-owned lots like Block 27 may be more accessible to the public and better suited for a hospital.

Osmeña said a prime commercial lot like the SRP may be put to better use if set aside for commercial purpose.

Lot prices in the SRP are expected to increase by as much as P50,000 in two years and after SM Prime Holdings is able to complete its development project in the area.

Prime lot

“That will be P500 million per hectare. That’s a prime lot,” Osmeña said.

Rama’s executive assistant Jose Daluz III, told the council last Tuesday that the SRP loan agreement allows the city to use 50 hectares of the 300 hectare reclamation area for open spaces and construction of government buildings.

But Osmeña said Rama should consider all options such as demolishing the CCMC’s third floor to lighten the 45-year-old hospital’s weight and reduce the possibility of collapse in the event of another quake.

Osmeña said the doctors’ offices located on the first floor should be transferred to the nearby Citilink terminal offices so the area could be occupied by patients relocated from the third floor wards. Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol questioned the fund-raising campaign, saying it should secure a permit from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Resolution

But DSWD assistant regional director Marcial Fernandez cited the Local Government Code which allows city and municipal mayors to hold activities for charitable and welfare purposes within their jurisdiction.