Cebu province inks deal with CNU for construction of medical school facility

Local

THE Cebu Provincial Government signed a usufruct agreement with Cebu Normal University (CNU) that will pave the way for the construction of the Cebu Normal University–Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (CNU-VSMMC) College of Medicine building.

The agreement grants CNU the right to use Lot 519-A, a 1,460-square-meter property owned by the Capitol in Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City, for 25 years.

CNU President Dr. Daniel Ariaso Sr. announced that the 21-story facility will house the CNU-VSMMC College of Medicine, the CNU College of Nursing, and other medical programs.

The national government allocated an initial P125 million for the project.

“This is a big, big contribution not only to Cebu Normal University but to the entire Cebuanos in the Philippines," Ariaso said during the signing on Thursday, November 21.

We will expand more programs so that we can cater to the educational needs of our beloved Cebuanos, prioritizing the poor but deserving students of the Province of Cebu,” he said.

The College of Medicine, created to address the lack of healthcare professionals in underserved areas, currently enrolls 157 students.

It operates as the first state-funded medical school in Central Visayas and offers free education through the "Doktor Para sa Bayan Act."

Graduates must fulfill their return service by working in government health facilities in their hometowns.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia stressed the significance of the project’s location near VSMMC, which ensures students gain hands-on medical training.

“This is the best learning ground we can possibly have in the entire Visayas, if not in the entire country, because VSMMC meets the required standard of excellence,” she said.

Garcia also emphasized the impact of the initiative, stating that it equips future graduates to serve underserved communities with compassion.

“Each and every future graduate of this college will serve with a heart, especially for the most underprivileged,” she said.

She praised CNU for its consistent excellence, noting that the Capitol fully supports its efforts.

Dr. Ariaso outlined plans to transfer CNU’s College of Nursing to the new facility to consolidate medical courses.

“Para isa na ang ating medical courses in one building so that they can complement with one another,” he said.

He assured that the construction process would proceed swiftly.(MyTVCebu)