The newly completed hospital building of the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo City (CPH Bogo) is the legacy project of the late Board Member Horacio “Raci” Franco.
The construction, which started in 2018 but was delayed by the pandemic, was made possible after Board Raci secured funding support for the vital infrastructure from the offices of at least six senators, namely: Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Koko Pimentel, and Sen. JV Ejercito; as well as former senators Sonny Angara, Kiko Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino.
They were led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros who initially believed in Board Raci’s vision for CPH Bogo and urged her fellow senators to contribute to his cause.
Data released by the Integrated Provincial Health Office revealed that the building project received an accumulated sum of P342.4 million from the funds of the senators. The funds were disbursed in such manner: P67.1 million was released for Phase 1; for Phase 2 it got P125.4 million; and it finally received P149.7 million for Phase 3.
On September 26, 2024, the newly completed hospital building, which was named after Board Raci, was finally inaugurated by Gov. Gwen Garcia, Bogo City Mayor Carlo Jose Martinez, and Board Raci’s widow, now Board Member Minuel Carmela Franco.
Senator Hontiveros graced the occasion, alongside former senators Pangilinan and Aquino.
“I was deeply moved by [Board Raci’s] persistence. He fought for his advocacy. He never got tired, and he never let anything stop him, not even his own health. I have no regrets for believing in him and saying yes to do this life-changing project,” Sen. Hontiveros said during the ceremony.
The new building has raised the bed capacity of CPH Bogo from 100 beds to 226 beds, better equipping it to serve the medical needs of the Cebuanos of northern Cebu.