ILOILO – The non-approval of the provincial government’s proposed 2019 budget of P3.7 billion could adversely affect 1,660 personnel of 11 district hospitals and one provincial hospital, warned Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.
The budget’s approval has been thrown into uncertainty by a recent revamp in committee chairmanships at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).
A reenacted 2018 budget would mean these 1,660 personnel won’t have salaries for 2019, said Defensor.
SP member Dorothy Paes, the new chairperson of the appropriations committee, said they were yet to conduct new deliberations on the proposed budget.
“We need time to scrutinize it,” she said, adding that her committee might start the deliberation next week.
There are only two sessions left for the SP to approve the budget before the year ends.
According to Defensor, the provincial government would be forced to reenact the 2018 budget if the 2019 budget is not approved. However, in this reenacted budget the salaries of contract of service and job hires for the new fiscal year are not included.
Thus, “indi sila masweldohan,” said Defensor.
Of these 1,660 personnel, 1,011 are contract of service while 649 are job hires, according to the governor.
For the proposed 2019 budget, the salaries of contract of service and job hire personnel would be taken from the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) allocation, according to the acting provincial accountant, Orwen Anuevo.
“In a reenacted budget for 2019, there is nothing to spend for new programs not present in the 2018 budget. Ang puede lang gid naton siguro magastohan are those salaries and wages nga charged sa personal services. Ang job hires kag contract of service personnel naton, since their 2019 salaries are charged sa MOOE, indi naton sila masweldohan,” said Anuevo.
Also to be affected is the licensing of the hospitals as required by the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), said Defensor.
The licenses could be revoked, he warned.
A certain number of hospital personnel must be maintained before DOH and PhilHealth issue a license.
“Without a license, the hospitals’ status would be downgraded to that of an infirmary only,” said Defensor.
The fourth tranche of the salary adjustment of over 2,000 regular and casual (plantilla) provincial government employees (in line with the Salary Standardization Law of 2015) may also be adversely affected by the non-approval of the 2019 budget, added the governor.
“Indi ina mahatag,” said Defensor.
The provincial government’s absorption of the San Joaquin Mother & Child Hospital in San Joaquin, Iloilo may also not push through, he added.
“Let us see if we can make it. It depends on our schedule. If we can tackle everything, then we can approve it,” said Paes whose predecessor in the appropriations committee, SP member Nielo Tupas, managed to conduct two budget deliberations prior to the SP reorganization last month two weeks ago.
Defesor believed the sudden SP reorganization was politically-motivated.
The SP majority bloc is supportive of the gubernatorial candidate of Cong. Ferjenel Biron who is clashing against Defensor’s son, Cong. Arthur Defensor Jr.
“Ang pamangkot, ano ang rason nga ma-reorganize sila? Kay ining members of the board are very supportive of all the programs, policies and projects of the provincial government. Ngaa nag-ilis sang chairman sang committee?” asked Defensor.
It was SP member Manny Gallar who called for the reorganization. He is running for congressman of the 3rd District against Defensor’s son, SP member Lorenz Defensor./PN
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