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PaDayon will lose source of kickbacks if HB 239 is approved – Opposition

February 5, 2009

By Lizanilla J. Amarga

Losing ownership and management over the J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital as proposed under House Bill 239 would mean PaDayon Pilipino administration officers will lose one of their largest sources of “kickbacks” from overpriced hospital supplies, medicines and equipments.

This was the statement issued by opposition leaders Gusa Barangay chairperson Enrico Salcedo, Atty. Manuel Ravanera and Atty. Rogelio Bagabuyo in response to moves from PaDayon Pilipino public officers to hold on to the city hospital’s ownership and management.

Salcedo voiced suspicions that the local administration officers’ opposition to the transfer of ownership of the city hospital might have something to do with reports that the city hospital has already been mortgaged by PaDayon Pilipino titular head Vicente Emano when the latter was still mayor of the city.

“Kay kung dunay transfer of ownership, mahadlok sila nga mangawas ang mga documento nga basin gi-mortgage na kanang atong city hospital (For if there will be transfer of ownership, administration officers are afraid that there might surface documents showing that perhaps our city hospital has already been mortgaged),” he said.

He pointed out that Emano and PaDayon Pilipino city councilors even mortgaged the land property where the Gusa Eastbound Public Utility Jeepney Terminal sits which is covered by a conditional donation.

Ravanera said PaDayon Pilipino public officers do not want to relinquish the full management of the city hospital to the Department of Health (DOH) because it is one of the largest sources of “kickbacks” in the form of overpriced hospital supplies from powder soap to bond papers and medicines.

He pointed out to two containers filled with vouchers, invoices, logbook photocopies and delivery receipts that were kept by city hospital officers themselves who could no longer stand the graft practices of the PaDayon Pilipino public officers.

Such documents are now attached as part of the evidences for the filing of 32 counts of graft charges involving P18 million against former city hospital head Dr. Jerie Calingasan, Emano, division heads and the involved suppliers at the Office of the Ombudsman with city hospital staff standing in as complainants.

Among the numerous invoices were those for the purchase of eight kilos of Zoom Detergent Powder costing P11,500.00 or at P1,437.00 per kilo and another for the purchase of a Food Conveyor with 36 trays for P119,500.00.

“What kind of a detergent powder is this that costs P1,437.00 per kilo? And a food conveyor used to deliver food around the hospital at almost P120,00? Why not just buy a small elf truck?,” the lawyer said.

Ravanera said it is clear that once the management of the city hospital will be transferred to DOH, the PaDayon Pilipino administration officers would no longer be able to continue such practices.

Salcedo said the local administration PaDayon Pilipino does not want to give up the management of the city hospital because they want to use its medicines, supplies and even its doctors and nurses for their politics in next years 2010 Elections.

He said having control over how the city hospital is managed means also the power to snub any requests from the local opposition when they need volunteer doctors and medical staff for their own medical missions.

He cited the situation when PaDayon Pilipino party leader and City Mayor Constantino Jaraula issued an order prohibiting volunteer doctors from attending a medical mission sponsored by First District Cong. Rolando Uy.

Bagabuyo for his part pointed out several how the Commission on Audit (COA) has found numerous anomalies in the management of the city hospital based on its Annual Audit Reports (AARs).

In the 2007 COA-AAR, he pointed out two instances wherein COA found the City Government violating the law – the P15 million in medicines that were distributed without complete inventory documents and the receipt mess involving P4 million.

He also cited how in 2006, COA also found out over P26 million in medical, dental and other supplies were found by COA to have been erroneously accounted for by the Emano administration.

“Of course these are deliberate errors. The City Hospital needs new management which is why there is the need to support HB 239,” he said adding how COA should have immediately moved for the filing of charges against those responsible for these anomalies.

HB 239 provides for the “upgrade and modernization of the J.R. Borja City Memorial Hospital as an extension hospital of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) in Cagayan de Oro and appropriating funds therefore.”

The bill would mean an allocation of around P127 million for the dilapidated 100-bed hospital which was assessed by the Department of Health as a mere secondary hospital as of August last year.

HB 239 is being pushed by First District Cong. Rolando Uy and Second District Cong. Rufus Rodriguez which has been approved during the 14th Congress and now pending for third and final hearing at the Senate.

But Cagayan de Oro city mayor Constantino Jaraula has certified urgent a proposed resolution vehemently opposing HB 239 for three reasons — lack of consultation, confiscatory and unconstitutional and that NMMC extension supervision to JR Borja Hospital will divest funds and deprive the city of ownership of the hospital.

Around 50 supporters of HB 239 from barangays Carmen, Patag, Gusa, Kauswagan, Lapasan and other areas in the city flocked to the City Council session hall yesterday to witness whether administration city councilors will oppose the abovementioned bill.

The PaDayon Pilipino city councilors softened their stand saying they support HB 239 but that they vehemently oppose converting the city hospital as an annex to NMMC whereby there will be transfer of ownership and management to DOH.


Written by admin · Filed Under Cagayan de Oro, Feature 

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