LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Health Undersecretary Roger Tong-an defended the proposed re-nationalization of the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) which is being currently pursued by Benguet Caretaker Congressman and Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Rep. Eric Yap because of its enormous benefits in terms of the delivery of quality health care services, upgrading of facilities and the compensation of health workers.
Tong-an, who joined Congressman Yap, Gov. Melchor Diclas, DOH-CAR representative Dr. Alexy Marerro and BeGH chief of hospital Dr. Meliarazon Dulay in the recent inauguration of the hospital’s dialysis unit, pointed out that once the re-nationalization of the hospital will be signed into law, the salaries of the health workers will be increased and at par with current standards of DOH-retained hospitals compared to the present set up that their salaries are really very low because the provincial government cannot actually afford to give the prescribed salaries.
Aside from the national government providing the salaries of the health workers, the DOH official claimed that the agency will also providing funds for the improvement of the existing facilities and the put up of additional structures so that more health care services could be offered to the people of Benguet and those patients from other provinces wanting to seek medical consultation from the facility.
He emphasized that instead of allocating at least P100 million annually for the administration, maintenance and operation of the hospital, the provincial government could re-allocate the same amount to improve the delivery of health care services by the 5 district hospitals located in the different parts of the province once BeGH will be re-nationalized, thus, people will no longer have to converge in a single health facility just to get quality health care services.
According to him, the salaries of health workers will be commensurate to their respective positions as defined in the hospital’s organizational chart and the salary scale provided by the budget department apart from the fact that they will be entitled to receive their prescribed special risk allowance among other benefits granted to health workers.
Tong-an, who is a native of Ambuclao, Bokod, stated that the people of Benguet should put premium on the efforts of Rep. Yap to help in whatever way for the improvement in the delivery of health care services and the overall development of the province because he saw his dedication and passion to render genuine public service based on his performance in Congress as chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations.
He emphasized that the people of Benguet are lucky to have a hardworking lawmaker who values the importance of the provision of quality health care services to the populace even in his capacity as the province’s legislative caretaker that is why he should be remembered by the residents for his passion to serve.
The health undersecretary stipulated that the funds for the put up of a 6-story building that will be complete with adequate facilities will be included in the agency’s annual budget for next year or the same could be sourced out from the public works department but what is important is that there will be continuation in the developments that is currently being spearheaded by Yap for the hospital to be at par with similar hospitals in other parts of the country.
By HENT
Photo by:Armando M. Bolislis
