BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya”•The provincial government here is asking the Department of Health to foot the bill for more health workers in its managed public hospitals in the province.
Dr. Edwin Galapon, provincial integrated health officer, said more nurses and medical technologists are needed at the hospitals.
The provincial government is “hell bent” in funding these positions allotted for its public hospitals, but it is prevented by a Department of Budget and Management circular on a personnel services cap, which refers to the maximum salaries and benefits for employees of a local government unit.
The Local Government Code provides that total appropriations, whether annual or supplemental, for personal services of a local government unit for one fiscal year shall not exceed 45 percent (for first to third-class LGUs) or 55 percent (for fourth class or lower-class LGUs).
“We cannot fund these needed positions, that is why the DoH assistance is needed. Funding these additional workers will bring better quality and more services to our patients,” Galapon said.
He said these additional personnel are supposed to be deployed in various public hospitals managed by the provincial government such as the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital in Bambang town, Kayapa District Hospital in Kayapa, Kasibu District Hospital in Kasibu, Dupax District Hospital in Dupax del Norte, and Diadi Emergency Hospital in Diadi.