SP halts hearing on hospital’s budget request

By Felipe V. Celino 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The Committee on Appropriations of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has ended the hearing on the budget requested by the management of the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital (RMPH) after concerned health officials failed to show up during the hearing Monday morning.

Board Member Jonathan Sonny Besa, Committee on Appropriations chairman, said they stopped the hearing after Dr. Edmarie Tormon, RMPH acting chief, failed to attend and submit the documents requested by the committee.

The committee recommended to the provincial board to disapprove the P8.1-million request for medical, dental and laboratory supplies; P4 million for additional medicines and supplies after the RMPH management failed to submit purchase request, purchase order, delivery receipt, among others.

Based on the data gathered by the committee on appropriations, RMPH has yet to account for P11 million worth of medicines and P23 million for supplies.

The provincial board is expected to pass a resolution in today’s (October 12, 2021) session asking the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special audit on the funds of RMPH for 2021.

The SP also plans to forward the special audit report to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Last week, the provincial board approved the partial request of the executive department intended for the salaries of the job orders and contract service health workers of RMPH.

The board also passed a resolution asking for the resignation of Tormon as acting hospital chief for being incapable of performing the job.

On the same day of session, a resolution passed declaring Dr. Edwin Chinel Monares persona non grata for being combatant against the members of the provincial board.