MOTHER AND CHILD HOSPITAL

THE P150 million allotted for the Mother and Child Hospital in the General Appropriations Act approved even during the previous administration is intended for Dagupan City only.

This was clarified by Atty. Jordan Falces, legal officer of the Department of Health (DOH) regional office, during a joint Executive-Legislative Caucus called by Mayor Belen Fernandez and Vice Mayor Bryan Kua last December 19.

“The fund really belongs to you, only coursed through DOH”, said Falces, adding that the fund was made available in the GAA during the previous administration and will revert to the national treasury if not utilized.

“Sayang naman ito kung hindi ninyo gagamitin,” Falces intoned.

The DOH central office is already pressuring the DOH regional office to turn over the fund to LGU Dagupan before December 31, 2023, he added.

This was corroborated by DOH’S Dr. Kai Sibayan and Dr. Veronica Guadiz-De Guzma who said the fund allocated to the city, as one of the pilot areas throughout the country under the Universal Health Care Program, would be forfeited if the Memorandum of Agreement transferring the fund from the DOH to the city of Dagupan is not signed on or before the end of the year.

Only a resolution from the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) authorizing Mayor Belen Fernandez to sign the MOA with DOH Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco is needed so that the fund would be immediately transferred.

However,  the majority in the Sanggunian refused to pass the resolution unless some documents are submitted, but they decided to boycott the regular session when the DOH and the city government were ready to present the required documents. (Four majority members were on leave, one was on official business and the two others were on travel leave).

At the insistence of DOH, Mayor Fernandez signed the MOA with DOH Regional Director Sydiongco at the Dagupan City Hall on December 20 in order to secure the P150 million allotted for the project and prevent its forfeiture at the end of the year.

The majority bloc was also a ‘no-show’ in two special sessions called to approve the supplemental investment program and supplemental budget for more than P36 million for the service recognition incentive of P20,000 each to regular employ and one-time gratuity pay of P5,000 each to Contract of Service and Job Order. (Leonardo Micua)

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