Dads hit request of social welfare dep’t for P69.1M

CEBU, Philippines - Some members of the Cebu City Council questioned the proposed P69.1 million additional budget of the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services under the P716 million Supplemental Budget-1.

Of the P69.1 million, DSWS is asking P50 million for the City hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program (CHAMP), P19 million for the Long Life Medical Assistance Program (LLMAP), and P100,000 for the purchase of glucometer strips.

During the budget deliberation yesterday, opposition councilors raised the concerns of some barangays in the city over the “confusion” and “politics” that is brought about by both projects.

“It’s a noble program. But, it’s causing confusion in many barangays. For one, sa Kamputhaw, the barangay hall is there, then across is the barangay mayor’s office (BMO). It is so funny kay mura’g nagbinirahanay naman nuon og pasyente,” said Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia.

He is referring to the existing program of the administration in which out-of-school youths are delivering free medicines every day to 40,000 beneficiaries under the LLMAP.

Garcia said the executive department should address the confusion in the barangay level, stressing that the people assigned in the BMOs are affiliated with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan.

“Dili gyod na magkasinabot kay ang naa sa BMO, mao ang managan karong umaabot nga eleksyon. I don’t think this program will work if this problem will not be addressed,” Garcia said.

Executive Assistant to the mayor Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez agreed with Garcia that there’s a conflict in some barangays now.

Fernandez said the executive department will coordinate with City Health Department and the people manning the LLMAP to avoid confusion.

Councilor Joel Garganera, for his part, asked for a list of the people who are delivering the medicines to the doorsteps of the patients.

“Sa akong barangay (Tinago), ang mga barangay health workers man ang galihok aning mga tambal. Wala man koy makit-ang out of school youths,” he said.

LLMAP Operations Head Peter Neil Visitacion said there are 800 out-of-school youths hired by the city government for the project.

Visitacion said he will furnish the Association of Barangay Councils the list of the people who are delivering the medicines.

As of now, he said there are 40,000 beneficiaries who are receiving free maintenance medicines for hypertension, diabetes, arthritis.

Of the P19 million, Visitacion said P14 million is for the procurement of medicines while P5 million is for the salaries of the out-of-school youths.

Also, Garganera and Garcia questioned the additional requirement in availing the CHAMP of the city. Both councilors said that the CHAMP is asking a recommendation from the BMOs.

But CHAMP Program Head Amor Villanueva denied the allegation that the office is denying the request of some residents who failed to get endorsements from BOPK leaders.

Villanueva said the city has spent P54 million from January to June serving 6,007 beneficiaries.

For the CHAMP, a person could get P35,000 for public hospitals comprised of P25,000 for hospitalization, P5,000 for medicines and another P5,000 for laboratory procedures.

Vilanueva said all people who asked for hospital assistance and medicines are being catered to regardless of political affiliation.

The council also heard the proposal of the Cebu City Medical Center which asked for additional P63 million for the drugs and medicines consultancy services, laboratory reagents, hazardous hospital waste management, among others.

City Health Department also asked for additional budget of P4.6 million for the hazard pay of its personnel.

The budget hearing will resume today to discuss the P131-million proposal of the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works. (FREEMAN)