ILOILO – Despite internal conflicts, its services were unaffected, according to the management of Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital (WVSGH).
The hospital’s doctors, nurses and other personnel will continue providing medical services, according to 2nd District’s Provincial Board member June Mondejar, citing the assurances given by WVSGH chief, Dr. Judy Ann Dumayas.
A committee hearing in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on Jan. 17 tackled issues at the hospital that went way back to 2014 when the WVSGH was then under Dr. Annabelle de Guzman.
“Sunu sa ila nagaka-delay ang paghatag sang sweldo, benepisyo kag allowances sa mga employees tungod sang wala pag-intindihanay sang pila ka opisyales dira,” Mondejar said.
There had been delays in the salaries of over 30 WVSGH contract of service (CoS) workers between April 2022 and June 2022, and similar incidents even prior to 2018.
The CoS workers were only able to receive salaries from April 2022 to June 2022 after the management decided to override accounting officer Condrado Sorongon Jr., according to Mondejar.
On Jan. 10, Mondejar highlighted the issues bugging the medical facility in a privilege speech after a social media post by a WVSGH casual employee caught his attention.
Among the issues were the following:
* delayed salaries
* allowances promised have not materialized – performance-based bonus, productivity enhancement incentive, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation sharing, collective negotiation agreement, hazard fee, subsistence and laundry allowances, etc.
* broken elevator
* no immediate repair of hospital equipment and facilities
* unreliable supplies (bandages, pairs of scissors, alcohol, etc.)
Meanwhile, the board member eyes passing a resolution encouraging the reactivation of the Regional Hearing Committee (RHC) of the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6, which will investigate the issues. RHC will be headed by Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, chief of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (PHO).
“Dapat i-investigate or i-activate ang regional hearing committee kay dugay nga nagtulog ang committee para maka-convene,” said Mondejar.
Provincial Board members Roland Distura, Binky Tupas and Ramon Sullano were also present during the hearing./PN
