Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. expressed support for a proposal to hire an independent project management consultant (PMC) to oversee the completion of the long-delayed Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC). In an interview on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Archival responded to Councilor David Tumulak’s privilege speech during a City Council session, which suggested hiring an independent PMC to monitor and manage the remaining construction work.
Mayor's Stance on Third-Party Oversight
“Yes, I’m inclined to support that. I also support it because what I really want is for the CCMC to finally be completed. For the last 10 to 12 years, it has remained unfinished,” Archival said. He noted that his administration thoroughly studied the project before allowing construction to proceed, even though the contract and notice to proceed (NTP) were already issued before he assumed office.
“When we came in, we first studied everything because the contract was already there, the NTP was already there. We wanted to make sure that continuing the project was the right thing to do,” he added.
Phase 5 Resumption and Contractor Challenges
The city officially relaunched Phase 5 of the project in February, with construction continuing under Dakay Construction and Development Corp. Archival acknowledged caution regarding the contractor’s timeline, noting that the project is more complex than typical construction because it only involves completing remaining work from previous contractors. “This is not a new project. It has already gone through four contractors, and Dakay is only continuing what was left behind,” he said.
During a recent inspection, the mayor discovered that some work completed in earlier phases might not meet technical standards. This led him to support Tumulak’s proposal for a third-party project management consultant to independently assess the project and help ensure its proper completion.
Budget and Technical Hurdles
Archival acknowledged that additional funding would be required for the consultant. “There is no budget allocated for that. We may have to source it through a supplemental budget, although I don’t think the amount needed will be that big,” he said. One of the biggest challenges is the building’s mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection (MEPF) systems. During his latest inspection two weeks ago, he noted that architectural works like walls and painting are ongoing, but MEPF components, a major part of the project, require further testing before construction can proceed.
The Department of Health (DOH) advised the city not to immediately replace existing installations but to test them first to determine usability. “The DOH told us to use what’s already there, but it has to be tested first. If you simply connect new systems without testing the existing ones, they might not work,” Archival said.
Testing and COA Approval
Archival has ordered city engineers to formally direct Dakay Construction to conduct the required tests. Results will be submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA), whose approval is needed if any components must be replaced. “You cannot simply remove what’s already there because government property is involved. If replacement is needed, COA has to approve it first,” he explained.
Due to additional technical requirements, the contractor has been given an extra 145 days to complete certain parts of the project. Despite challenges, the mayor reiterated his administration’s commitment to finishing the CCMC, which has been undergoing renovation since the old hospital building was declared unsafe after the 2013 Bohol earthquake.
Timeline for Completion
Current Phase 5 involves finishing the fourth to seventh floors of the hospital. The city aims to complete this phase by the end of 2026 and have the facility fully operational by early 2027.
