ILOILO City – Several personnel of the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital (RMPH) in Roxas City demanded for the release of their salaries.
If not, they would go on leave.
They gave the hospital management an ultimatum – until next week.
In their petition letter to RMPH officer-in-charge Dr. Edmarie Tormon, the employees lamented not having received their monthly salaries.
“We have bills to pay, families to feed, children to provide for, and daily necessities. Our savings are already used up to the point that we have to scrounge for our transportation going to the hospital,” they said.
These hospital employees included doctors, nurses, nursing attendants, medical technologists, laboratory aides, molecular laboratory staff, and dialysis staff, among others.
“We have grown to love the hospital and as much as possible we do want to Ieave our patients unattended. But if our salaries are not paid by next week, this will leave us with no choice but to file for a leave of absence starting Oct. 5, 2021,” they warned Tormon.
The P47,500,000 supplemental budget requested by the provincial hospital has not yet been approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Capiz.
Wednesday last week, the healthcare workers held a candlelight protest.
Gathering in front of the Capiz provincial hospital, they urged local officials to prioritize health over politics and pressed for the quick approval of the supplemental budget for RMPH.
“Ang mga healthcare workers wala labot sa pulitika. Sila nagapanguna kag nagabaka-baka sa pagbulong sang mga positibo sa coronavirus bisan pa pila na sila ka bulan nga wala naswelduhan,” the Save RMPH Facebook page posted.
Earlier, the hospital management announced that the healthcare facility could no longer accept new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients because it has almost reached full capacity.
The management also noted that their supply of medical oxygen has fallen to critical levels due to the lack of funds to procure more./PN
