THE Cebu City Government will allocate P1 billion for the new Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).
City Administrator Floro Casas Jr. said the budget will be included in the first supplemental budget (SB1) this year.
In a previous interview with Mayor Edgardo Labella during the ceremonial opening of the first three floors of the building on N. Bacalso Ave. in December, he said more than P1 billion was still needed to complete the construction of the 10-story hospital.
The local finance committee is still discussing the SB1, which will be endorsed to the executive department for the final proposal. From the executive department, it will then be submitted to the City Council for approval.
Casas said this might be the last tranche that will be allocated for the ongoing construction.
A budget of P500 million was approved and released last year to cover the rest of the hospital’s unfinished floors.
“Naa nama’y P500 million. Naa na sad P1 billion. I think mahuman na na with (construction will be completed with) that budget,” said Casas.
The City Government already spent P800 million for the construction of the first, second and the third phase of the project.
Three contractors are currently working on the building: C.E. Padilla Construction Inc., C.B. Garay Philwide Builders and Charlz Construction.
In December, Labella said the City was aiming for the whole building to be operational in 18 months, or before his term ends in 2022. (JJL)