Re-apply for grant, Jica tells CCMC

Sunday, January 29, 2012

THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) told the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) to reapply for its $10-million or at least P430-million grant.

CCMC will use the grant for the construction of a six-story hospital building along N. Bacalso Ave. where most of the surrounding lots are owned by the City Government.

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That, as Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, South District) defended his wife Councilor Margarita Osmeña from complaints of the department heads on their slashed budget.

Councilor Osmeña heads the council committee on budget and finance.

The Council had approved a P5.2-billion annual budget for this year, slashing the proposal of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama of P11.8 billion for lack of fund sources.

“We cannot cut something that doesn’t exist. That’s his accomplishment, blame me and blame the City Council,” Tomas said.

Services

City Hall departments like the Department of Manpower Development and Placement, City Health Department and Department of Public Services have complained that services will be hampered with the lack of budget.

“All he (Rama) talks about is fund cuts. It’s not my fault that we don’t have P15 billion,” said Tomas, who recently announced that he will be running for mayor in 2013, after much speculation since his relationship with Rama soured. Rama left Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan last year.

“I put him there so I have to be the one to take him out,” said Rep. Osmeña of his intention to reclaim the mayoral seat.

Rama is on vacation abroad and asked to reserve his comment until he officially gets back to work.

Tomas said he supported Rama’s mayoral candidacy in 2010, believing that Rama deserved it after serving nine years as councilor and another nine as vice mayor.

Rubber stamp

But the congressman criticized Rama’s leadership, noting that the Council has been dubbed as Rep. Osmeña’s rubber stamp.

“And I’m not even the mayor... He has no one,” said Rep. Osmeña.

The former mayor also said the urban poor groups are not with Rama and the latter is having hard time forming a lineup for 2013.

He was referring to the mayor’s stand to restore the three-meter easement for Mahiga Creek by demolishing illegal structures, alienating the informal settlers in the area.

Tomas brushed aside talks that his health will prevent him from campaigning in the sitios.

“Not only will I campaign sitio-to-sitio but I have a wife that can campaign house-to-house,” the congressman said.

At CCMC, hospital chief Dr. Gloria Duterte said a representative from Jica recently communicated with then CCMC head Dr. Eduardo Sedoripa.

“They told him (Sedoripa) that CCMC can revive and can already apply again for the grant,” said Duterte.

Sedoripa was the one who prepared the documents needed for the application of a grant to the Japanese Government before he left CCMC for Canada.

Optimistic

Duterte said this is a welcome development for CCMC, considering that it’s been almost a year since their application was deferred.

In March last year, CCMC’s request for a $10-million grant was deferred by Jica after Japan was hit by an earthquake and tsunami, which damaged properties and infrastructure, took lives and nearly caused a nuclear disaster.

Duterte is optimistic that their request will be approved this year.