Indigents’ aid worth P6M questioned

CEBU, Philippines - To augment the continuing health and social services for the indigents, Governor Hilario Davide III is asking the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release P6 million in financial aid to Cebu’s local government units in the second district.

The second legislative district in southern Cebu covers the towns of Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, and Samboan.

The Provincial Board (PB) also endorsed the governor’s request to DBM during its regular session Monday.

But prior to the approval of the endorsement, Board Member Sun Shimura questioned the appropriation of the amount.

“Why only the second district will receive this aid requested by the governor?” Shimura asked.

Board Member Jose Mari Salvador, who penned the resolution, explained that the financial aid will be sourced from Second District Representative Wilfredo Caminero’s Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance (LGSF-FA).

“You have to ask your representatives to allocate funding for your respective districts. The amount has been set aside by Caminero so it should be implemented in his district,” Salvador told the PB members.  Cebu has seven districts.

Shimura asked if the governor could ask Congressman Benhur Salimangon of the fourth district to also allocate a budget of P6 million.

But Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, the presiding officer, said it would be proper for Shimura to directly ask Salimbangon.

 “I don’t see any reason why you cannot (ask the governor). Although I think, protocol wise, you should inform your congressman first that certain amount be allocated to be downloaded to the provincial government and to be released to your district,” she said.

However, Shimura insisted to move for an incidental motion, requesting the governor to instead ask DBM to allocate the same funding for the fourth district.

This prompted Magpale to call for a recess to “explain” her contention.

“Board Sun, mura’g dili proper nga ang governor maoy mangayo sa congressman. Just to give you an example, in 2013, former governor Pabling Garcia downloaded P73 million to the Province of Cebu to be used solely for the second district.”

“Iya ning giapud-apud – P51 million to Dumanjug, P500,000 to Argao, and P400,000 to Ronda, etcetera but naabtan sa suspension  ni (former) Gov. Gwen Garcia (now Cebu third district representative).  I wrote DBM unsa akong role, and DBM said that it is now for the acting governor (Magpale) to release the funds. The intention to deposit came from the congressman himself. So dili ta maka-ask ni governor nga mangayo kang Rep. Salimbangaon,” she said.

Shimura finally conceded that Magpale was right.

In Cebu province, indigent patients are free of hospital services and ambulance fees.

However, they must present a certificate of indigency to avail of the benefits as provided for under the amended Section 173 of the Provincial Ordinance No. 2008-10, otherwise known as the Revenue Code of 2008.

Even prior to the approval of the amendatory ordinance, Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino earlier said that all hospital administrators have been directed to waive the charges for indigent patients.

Under the "no balance billing" system, indigent patients should not pay a single centavo when they go to a public hospital.

Indigents have been enjoying access to free medical care and hospitalization in the 12 district hospitals and four provincial hospitals through Capitol's Point of Care program.

Under the program, indigent patients who are non-PhilHealth members will, upon admission, be automatically enrolled and would then be able to avail of the benefits right away.

The Capitol is paying P2,400 premium for each of the barangay officials and workers, which include the lupon and community volunteer workers, barangay health  workers (BHWs), barangay nutrition scholars (BNS), daycare center workers (DCCWS), and barangay animal health aid staff (BAHAS). (FREEMAN)