CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama is turning to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to help build the new Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).
Yesterday, Rama brought Pagcor Chairman Cristino "Bong" Naguiat Jr. to the site where the new hospital will stand, which is the same site where the old city hospital stood.
The building has since been demolished to give way to the new building, described to be at par with international standards.
Rama also brought Naguiat to the temporary hospital, which is located inside the Bureau of Fire Protection 7 compound.
Naguiat was in the city yesterday for the groundbreaking of P40 million worth of classrooms that Pagcor built in Barangays Inayawan and Guadalupe.
Rama said he also briefed the Pagcor head on what happened to the old CCMC and the plans for the new hospital through an audio-visual presentation.
"His heart is very open. He, himself, is committed to help," said Rama of Naguiat, when asked if Pagcor made any pledges.
Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos, chairperson of the CCMC ad hoc committee, said she is hoping that Pagcor will provide financial assistance to the City Government for the building of a new hospital.
The construction of a new CCMC had been estimated to cost P1.5 billion.
It will be a 10-storey facility with more than 400 beds.
So far, the City had already set aside P300 million to start the project while more than P15 million had been raised from the "Piso Mo, Hospital Ko" fund drive.
Asked about the status of the project, Delos Santos said yesterday that they are still in the process of preparing the documents for the bidding.
She refused to provide more details about the project but added that they will give updates soon.
The CCMC ad hoc committee wants to start the construction of the new hospital by the end of July.
The old CCMC was demolished after it sustained heavy damage following the 7.2-magnitude earthquake last October.