Health workers protest non-approval of budget

By Felipe V. Celino 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz— Healthcare workers of the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital (RMPH) held a candlelight protest Wednesday evening to inform the public and provincial officials that the government-run hospital is in critical situation.

They also asked the provincial officials to set aside politics and instead attend to the needs of the people amid the pandemic.

The failure of the Capiz provincial board to approve the P3.4 million supplemental budget for RMPH triggered the protest.

Every day, health workers have been putting their lives at risk in taking care of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, according to a protester who asked not to be named.

“There are no ghosts employees here, just healthcare workers fighting for other people in the name of health care. The moment we stop fighting for each other, that’s the moment we lose our humanity,” the protester added.

A video of a medical frontliner was presented during the candlelight protest.

A nurse said that they deserve respect as frontliners. Fellow protesters carried placards with the words: “This is not just your battle, this is everybody’s battle. Give us the strength to carry on.”

“Bawat isa diyan ay may pamilya ring binubuhay. Please give them what they deserve. Kasi andami nang sinakripisyo nila para sa inyo,” the nurse said.

The health care workers asked the Capiz provincial board members to approve the supplemental budget for their salaries.

The provincial board stalled the approval of the request for failure of the RMPH management to furnish the committee on appropriations the list of casual and contractual employees, including their pictures and cellphone numbers.

BLINDED 

Board member Jonathan Besa lamented the protest action by RMPH medical frontliners.

In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Besa said the frontliners were blinded in the issue and instead blamed the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for not approving the request.

Besa said there are other fund sources for the salaries while the supplemental budget is being reviewed by the committee which he chairs.

DISMAYED

Meanwhile, several mayors in Capiz are dismayed by the intramural between the executive and the legislative branches over the supplemental budget for RMPH.

A consultative meeting called by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Capiz Chapter on September 21 focused on the non-approval of the budget meant for

the salaries and wages of the contractual and casual workers; and medical equipment, particularly medical oxygen, of RMPH.

The mayors, led by chapter president and Mambusao Mayor Leodegario Labao Jr., learned that there were a lot of employees working in the provincial government hospital.

The approval of the supplemental request was stalled after the executive department and RMPH management failed to submit the papers asked by the committee on appropriations which is chaired by board member Jonathan Besa.

The documents were forwarded to the committee on appropriations just recently and it took time for the committee to study and scrutinize them.

Mayors Roberto Palomar of Tapaz, Tito Mayo of Cuartero, Arthur John Biñas of Sapian and Receliste Escolin of President Roxas were among the local chief executives that questioned the delay in the approval of the budget.

Provincial Administrator Dr. Edwin Chinel Monares, Dr. Edmarie Tormon of RMPH and provincial consultant Atty. Macky Cosgayon were present on behalf of the executive branch.

A heated discussion occurred when Cosgayon insisted that the Data Privacy Act will be violated if they submitted the names, pictures, and cellphone numbers of employees assigned to RMPH.

Cosgayon added that the appropriations committee also requested the purchase request and order including receipts on the transaction made by RMPH.

But the mayors said the law will not be violated since the information are supposed to be public.

The lack of medical oxygen was also taken up after constituents of Maayon Mayor Raymond Malapajo complained of the non-availability of medical grade oxygen for their patient admitted to RMPH.

To address the delay in the approval of the request budget, some provincial board members on Monday agreed to contribute money to buy medical oxygen for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients at the RMPH.

The money was taken from their respective assistance to indigent in crisis situations (AICS) funds and maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) budget.