Dear Mr. Valleser,

I have been an employee at the JR Borja Memorial City Hospital for the past  nine years. Many of my co-employees would like to take exemption from your insinuations that our city hospital is not doing the services it is intended to do. Since the first day of [...]]]> HERE’S another one from the Inbox.

Dear Mr. Valleser,

I have been an employee at the JR Borja Memorial City Hospital for the past  nine years. Many of my co-employees would like to take exemption from your insinuations that our city hospital is not doing the services it is intended to do. Since the first day of my employment, I have been told that this is a hospital for the poor in line with the vision of Mayor Vicente Emano.

We have innovations as a response to the need of hospital care for our people. But maybe you do not know because I am sure you would go to a better hospital when sick. In fact, the city hospital is serving patients not only from the city but also from other municipalities.

You mentioned in your colum  something that can be done to improve our services like closing down the out patient department. It is a good idea but you are already late. Mayor Emano has already done that. And also, we do not welcome the idea of a ‘‘cooperative hospital’’ as this will interrupt our years of service. We would also lose our pay.

Please be informed that we are happy with the hospital as it is.
A Concerned  Employee

Dear Concerned Employee,

If you are really convinced on the vision of Mayor Dongkoy Emano on the hospital and that you are really concerned about the poor patients that you serve, the best way you can help the poor patients is to tell them to check out immediately and be confined elsewhere.

You have enough years with the city hospital. I guess it was Mayor Dongkoy who appointed you. You are indeed a grateful employee to the point that you still call him ‘‘mayor’’ and not vice mayor; he is inutile as a vice mayor, and he is the highest paid 15/30 local official in the whole country today. But this is another issue, an issue of competence of an elective office to his position.

Yes, you’re correct that an order was already issued by ‘‘Mayor’’ Emano to close the out-patient department, limit  regular checkups and normal births to the health centers. Are you really convinced this is being done?  Intention without the execution is ‘‘all sound and fury signifying nothing. Zero, nada, zilch!

I heard a news report from the radio supposedly about Councilor Dante Pajo saying that everybody is welcome to apply for work at the city hospital. How I wish the story was ‘‘everybody is welcome to be confined at the city hospital with its modern facilities and dedicated staff.’’

This brings two questions to mind: A)  Did Councilor Pajo say that because there is no other good point of being employed at the city hospital except the pay? B) Are there more resignations from doctors and nurses that he is now calling for new applicants?

But I guess the letter of our  ‘‘Concerned Employee’’ gives us the answer to the first question––anything can happen to the city hospital as long as the employees’ security of tenure and pay is protected. What a wonderful vision and working values our city officials are imparting to the city employees, indeed! Table Talk By JAY VALLESER Updated July 7, 2009

Jaraula also called ‘‘ignorant’’ those who have criticized city hall over the way it has been running the JR Borja [...]]]> MAYOR Constantino Jaraula on Tuesday vowed to fight so city hall could keep the JR Borja Memorial Hospital even as he called ‘‘malicious’’ moves to place the institution under the state-run Northern Min-danao Medical Center (NMMC).

Jaraula also called ‘‘ignorant’’ those who have criticized city hall over the way it has been running the JR Borja hospital in Carmen.

“No one should take the JR Borja hospital from Cagayan de Oro, and it will remain as the ‘city hospital,’” said Jaraula in response to reports that a congressman, obviously Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, has continued to work in making the local government-run institution under the Department of Health (DOH) through the NMMC. The mayor did not mention Rodriguez’s name.

“Kini taliwala sa uban nga ilang kawaton o kumpiskahon,’’ said Ja-raula, adding that the city hospital could received national government funds even if it is run by the local government.

Jaraula reacted to a criticism in connection with city hall’s P97-million supplemental budget.

Of this additional budget, only P6,300 was set aside for the city hospital, prompting Rodriguez to call it ‘‘scandalous.’’ Rodriguez also criticized city hall’s alleged lack of concern for the poor who need medical attention.

Jaraula said the supplemental budget was just an addition to the basic budget for the city hospital’s operations and supplies this year.

Without the P6,300-supplemental budget, the budget for the hospital includes personal services, P50.647 million; maintenance and other operating expenses, P32.900 million; drugs and medicines, P27.800 million; and other expenses, P5 million.

“This makes almost P100 million for the city hospital alone. We have a supplemental budget because we generated additional income not included in the annual budget. Is this scandalous? That can only come from ignorance on local governance,” said Jaraula. By LITO RULONA – Correspondent Gold Star Daily News

Former City Hospital Chief Dr. Vincent Tero disclosed that too much politics played at the city hall-run hospital pushes it into a “pitiful” state.

“The order of the day [...]]]> The facilities and services of the city government-run J.R. Borja General Hospital could have been improved if the equipment, drugs and medicines donated by other sources were accepted.

Former City Hospital Chief Dr. Vincent Tero disclosed that too much politics played at the city hall-run hospital pushes it into a “pitiful” state.

“The order of the day is not to accept any donation coming from the opposition bloc especially from Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Reps. Rolando Uy and Rufus Rodriguez,” he said.

Tero who also served as City Health Officer during the incumbency of Mayor Vicente Emano and then was later detailed to the Philippine National Red Cross –Mindanao Blood Bank when he accommodated some P2 million worth of medicines from Pimentel sometime in 1997.

He said during his stay with the city hospital, he accepted a donation of CT Scan from Pimentel, but he was allegedly ordered to reject the same and later transferred to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC).

“Naa unta’y CT scan ang city hospital. Dili na unta mobayad ug tag-tres mil ang mga pasyente sa dakbayan kung magpa-CT scan pero wala dawata,” he stressed.

Another CT scan coming from Rep. Uy was about to be delivered to the city hospital last year, but was again rejected by the present administration without any justifiable reason.

Tero said the present administration has made the city hospital into a “pitiful” state including it’s services to the public.

“Bisan gapas ug alcohol wala diha. Tambal pa kaha hinoon,” he added.

A reliable source said that according to the Dr. Tero operating equipment lamps and other equipment are no longer serviceable.

The hospital use fluorescent lamps as incubator for premature babies.

“Ang suga kahulogon. Gihiktan na lang. Mahadlok ang gi-operahan,” he said.

He said that turning-over the entire responsibility of the city hospital to the Department of Health (DOH) is the only solution to uplift the status of the city hospital.

Members of the opposition bloc is set to conduct an investigation on Tero’s disclosures.

Earlier, Dra. Fe Tagayuna, who was appointed by City Mayor Constantino Jaraula to head the city hospital but later resigned from office after she was reportedly detailed to one of the urban barangays.

Assistant Minority Floor Leader Roger Abaday said Tero’s pronouncement is a clear indication that the city hospital has been manage badly.

“Maulaw kita sa katawhan nga instead of improving it’s services to the public it has become an awkward health service provider. This should be corrected,” he said. by LITO RULONA Gold Star Daily News Mindanao

Jaraula said this at Bombo Radyo over the weekend in reaction to the bill of Rep. Rufus Rodriguez seeking to make the city hospital an annex [...]]]> CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Constantino Jaraula said that the national government can always give financial assistance to JR Borja Memorial City Hospital even if it doesn’t acquire its ownership.

Jaraula said this at Bombo Radyo over the weekend in reaction to the bill of Rep. Rufus Rodriguez seeking to make the city hospital an annex of the national government-owned Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC).

Both hospitals are located in Cagayan de Oro City; the city hospital in Carmen, the NMMC along Corrales avenue.

Jaraula added that he is not opposed to the city hospital becoming an annex to NMMC provided that there will be no change in ownership.

“If it’s only for operational purpose, then yes, I will not oppose for the city hospital to become an annex of NMMC. But if there is a change of ownership, no,” the mayor bluntly said over the radio.

In justifying his stance, Jaraula said that the efforts of Cagayan de Oro in keeping ownership of the hospital since 40 years ago when it was established would all go in vain once it transfers ownership to the national government.

House Bill 239 provides “for the upgrade and modernization of the J.R. Borja City Memorial Hospital as an extension hospital of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro and appropriating funds therefore.”

Once passed into law, the city hospital would be placed under the direct supervision of the Department of Health (Doh) and thus automatically qualify for yearly funding from the national government’s General Appropriations Act.

JR Borja Memorial City Hospital was named after former Mayor Justiniano R. Borja who also has a street and a statue named after him. By MARK D. FRANCISCO Gold Star Daily News Mindanao

The unfinished three-storey hospital building for over a decade now. Photo by Jessica

Pro-administration Councilor Dante Pajo said [...]]]> A CITY official Monday brushed aside allegations that “politics” was behind the troubles besetting JR Borja General Hospital, even as he denied claims that City Hall has blocked donations made by political rivals to the city-run medical facility.

The unfinished three-storey hospital building for over a decade now. Photo by Jessica

Pro-administration Councilor Dante Pajo said City Hall was eager to receive the 10 dialysis machines earlier pledged by 1st district Rep. Rolando Uy, who belongs to the local political opposition. Councilor Pajo said the donation includes a building that will house the equipment.

“I’ve talked to the Mayor [Constantino Jaraula] and he said he’s okay with the donation,” said Pajo, chairman of the health committee.

Last year, Rep. Uy’s office lamented that City Hall had spurned a similar effort by the lawmaker, who chose to donate the hospital equipment instead to the nationally-run Northern Mindanao Medical Center. The donation was funded from the congressman’s pork barrel.

The city-run hospital is no stranger to being deprived with much-needed diagnostic apparatus and other life-saving equipment simply because these are offered by politicians who don’t play footsies with the incumbents.

Dr. Vincent Tiro, a retired chief of hospital at JR Borja, said the practice became common during the Emano administration.

The physician recalled that at one point during the first term of then Mayor Vicente Emano — now a vice mayor — the latter castigated him for receiving the P2 million worth of medicines from Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, a native of Cagayan de Oro. Starting out as allies, Sen. Pimentel has been Emano’s political nemesis for years now.

“I received it with all gratefulness as then the chief of the hospital as it would mean more service for the sick and needy. I never thought I would be chided for doing what is right,” Dr. Tiro said.

“Politics is very well entrenched at the hospital, from the appointment and removal of personnel, up to the distribution of medicines to barangays,” he said.

Not once did Emano castigate him for handing out medicines to barangay officials deemed outcast to the former mayor’s political circle.

“He [Emano] once told me to ‘Ikaw na lang mag-mayor’ when I reasoned with him on the equitable distribution of medicines,” Tiro said.

During his watch, Tiro said Pimentel also donated a CT scan, which he said was “very much needed” in any hospital to help diagnose various medical conditions. Poor patients, he added, need not go to private hospitals and spend P3,000 for a CT scan.

Tiro said the equipment went to the NMCC instead because Emano would not want it in the city-run hospital.

Weeks later, Tiro said he was fired as chief of the hospital and detailed to another department until he retired in early 2000.

The former JR Borja chief said the P10 million hospital building donated by Pimentel in late 90s suffered the same fate, as the Emano administration had refused to shell out money as counterpart. The building, he said, was left to deteriorate for over a decade now.

However, Pajo said the three-storey building may finally be completed within this year. The after Department of Health (DOH), he said, has offered to finish the project.

“DOH-10 (Northern Mindanao) has already started the bidding phase of the project last June 8. Of the six bidders who signified interest in undertaking the project, five bidders qualified,” the councilor said.

Another view ot the unfinished three-storey hospital building.

The city-run hospital has lately been rocked with controversies, heightened by resignations of several doctors late last month. The physicians–numbering 18 out of the hospital’s 35 doctors–complained of low pay and poor working conditions.

They also lamented the hospital’s inability to give adequate health services to poor patients because the facility lacks even the basic medical equipment.

The hospital management had earlier suspended its weekend consultations.

Pajo said the Saturday and Sunday consultations have been resumed since last week. He said City Hall is already hiring doctors to replace those who resigned. He also denied the resignations had crippling effect on the hospital’s services, describing the doctors’ exodus as a “minor setback.” By Cong B. Corrales Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro

In 2006, the city hospital enjoyed its biggest budget in six years — P123 million — but this amount would dramatically be reduced to around P60 million the following year, [...]]]> THE city-run JR Borja General Hospital hasn’t had a stable budget in recent years, its appropriations rising and falling to resemble that of an erratic curve.

In 2006, the city hospital enjoyed its biggest budget in six years — P123 million — but this amount would dramatically be reduced to around P60 million the following year, or a cut of over P62 million.

On its face, the hospital’s general budget cycle — not counting the exceptional downward spiral in 2007 — has seen a steady growth, rising from over P56 million in 2004 to around P70 million in 2005. From 2007, the funding climbed to over P78 million in 2008, increasing to P83 million this year.

But these increases have largely been driven by inflation and the local government’s administrative obligations to the hospital personnel.

Funds allocated for medicines and life-saving apparatus — lumped under the maintenance, overhead, and operating expense (MOEE) — have remained disproportionate to Cagayan de Oro’s population over the years, and followed the erratic pattern in the general budget.

For example, the MOOE in 2005 saw an increase of over half the amount compared to the previous year — at around P24 million. This amount would only grow by P2 million in 2006, and dropping by a whooping P6.9 million in the succeeding year.

In 2008, the MOEE would again rise to P13 million, or an appropriation of over P32 million.

The additional money for MOEE this year? A meager P215,353.

Specifically, a budget of P4.6 million out of the P32.9 million MOOE for 2009 is allocated for medicines, patient’s subsistence, and medical supplies such as X-ray films, medical oxygen, and nitrogen oxide.

As of August 1, 2007, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) placed the city’s total population at 553,966.

What that means is that at any one time, the local government only sets aside a miniscule P8.30 on medicines and other life-saving apparatus for any patient admitted to the city-run hospital.

To compare, the P123 million budget in 2006 allocated around P23.4 million for medicines and medical supplies.

Noticeably, however, bulk of that budget went to the construction of an additional building amounting to P50 million. The rest was appropriated to hospital equipment such as one unit of operating room table that cost P1.3 million, five units of fire extinguisher that cost P79,550, a unit of ultrasound machine at P4 million, two computer sets at P120,000, a unit of anesthesia machine at P2.3 million, and two ECG machines at P300,000.

Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro’s analysis of the budget is based on the approved appropriations in the last six years obtained by this paper.

The hospital’s budget has come under scrutiny after several doctors resigned lately, complaining of low pay and poor working conditions. They also lamented the lack of crucial life-saving devices at the hospital, which they said has contributed to its deteriorating services.

Corruption has also tainted the management of the hospital.

In 2007, several employees accused the then hospital chief, Dr. Jerie Calingasan, of graft and corruption. A graft case against Dr. Calingasan is pending at the Ombudsman.

Calingasan, who was stripped of his position at the hospital and reassigned back to the City Health Office, has denied the allegation.

Aided by their lawyer, Manuel Ravanera, the employees alleged that Calingasan made “emergency purchases” that were not actually “emergency” in character. Among the hospital “purchases” was a repair of a Toyota Tamaraw FX and a Kia Besta Ambulance, which amounted to P131,200. Calingasan reimbursed the amount because it supposedly came from his pocket.

There were also purchases of hospital supplies, among others, eight kilos of detergent powder at a price of P11,500.00 or an amount of P1,437.50 per kilo.

In 2006 and 2007, Calingasan was reimbursed the amount P855,939 purportedly due to the “advances” he made to the hospital.

During that period, the complainants alleged that the hospital purchased an overpriced X-ray machine, which cost P6.5 million but supposedly had an actual market price of P3 million. A surgical table that is unbranded and costing P400,000 allegedly purchased at P1.2 million.

These and other irregular transactions were approved by then mayor Vicente Emano, the complaint said.

Last year, a state auditor said in a report that P15 million worth of drugs and medicines at the city-run hospital cannot be accounted.

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A defibrillator is a medical device that is used to defibrillate the heart. It does this by shocking the heart with an electric current to stop ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. The current is sent through two electrodes. These electrodes are normally either paddles or sticky pads. Each electrode is placed on one side of the heart.

Ventricular fibrillation is a situation of electrical chaos in the heart’s conduction system. It changes the normal contractions of cardiac muscular tissue. This causes the heart to stop pumping blood around the body properly. It causes circulatory arrest and death within minutes from hypoxic brain damage.

The Defibrillator is one machine that is imperative for a hospital or clinic to have. It’s so important, that even many public facilities, such as airplanes, are keeping them on hand, in case of emergencies. At present this only cost around 50 to 60 thousand pesos.

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This was the statement issued by opposition leaders Gusa Barangay chairperson Enrico Salcedo, Atty. Manuel Ravanera and [...]]]> Losing ownership and management over the J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital as proposed under House Bill 239 would mean PaDayon Pilipino administration officers will lose one of their largest sources of “kickbacks” from overpriced hospital supplies, medicines and equipments.

This was the statement issued by opposition leaders Gusa Barangay chairperson Enrico Salcedo, Atty. Manuel Ravanera and Atty. Rogelio Bagabuyo in response to moves from PaDayon Pilipino public officers to hold on to the city hospital’s ownership and management.

Salcedo voiced suspicions that the local administration officers’ opposition to the transfer of ownership of the city hospital might have something to do with reports that the city hospital has already been mortgaged by PaDayon Pilipino titular head Vicente Emano when the latter was still mayor of the city.

“Kay kung dunay transfer of ownership, mahadlok sila nga mangawas ang mga documento nga basin gi-mortgage na kanang atong city hospital (For if there will be transfer of ownership, administration officers are afraid that there might surface documents showing that perhaps our city hospital has already been mortgaged),” he said.

He pointed out that Emano and PaDayon Pilipino city councilors even mortgaged the land property where the Gusa Eastbound Public Utility Jeepney Terminal sits which is covered by a conditional donation.

Ravanera said PaDayon Pilipino public officers do not want to relinquish the full management of the city hospital to the Department of Health (DOH) because it is one of the largest sources of “kickbacks” in the form of overpriced hospital supplies from powder soap to bond papers and medicines.

He pointed out to two containers filled with vouchers, invoices, logbook photocopies and delivery receipts that were kept by city hospital officers themselves who could no longer stand the graft practices of the PaDayon Pilipino public officers.

Such documents are now attached as part of the evidences for the filing of 32 counts of graft charges involving P18 million against former city hospital head Dr. Jerie Calingasan, Emano, division heads and the involved suppliers at the Office of the Ombudsman with city hospital staff standing in as complainants.

Among the numerous invoices were those for the purchase of eight kilos of Zoom Detergent Powder costing P11,500.00 or at P1,437.00 per kilo and another for the purchase of a Food Conveyor with 36 trays for P119,500.00.

“What kind of a detergent powder is this that costs P1,437.00 per kilo? And a food conveyor used to deliver food around the hospital at almost P120,00? Why not just buy a small elf truck?,” the lawyer said.

Ravanera said it is clear that once the management of the city hospital will be transferred to DOH, the PaDayon Pilipino administration officers would no longer be able to continue such practices.

Salcedo said the local administration PaDayon Pilipino does not want to give up the management of the city hospital because they want to use its medicines, supplies and even its doctors and nurses for their politics in next years 2010 Elections.

He said having control over how the city hospital is managed means also the power to snub any requests from the local opposition when they need volunteer doctors and medical staff for their own medical missions.

He cited the situation when PaDayon Pilipino party leader and City Mayor Constantino Jaraula issued an order prohibiting volunteer doctors from attending a medical mission sponsored by First District Cong. Rolando Uy.

Bagabuyo for his part pointed out several how the Commission on Audit (COA) has found numerous anomalies in the management of the city hospital based on its Annual Audit Reports (AARs).

In the 2007 COA-AAR, he pointed out two instances wherein COA found the City Government violating the law – the P15 million in medicines that were distributed without complete inventory documents and the receipt mess involving P4 million.

He also cited how in 2006, COA also found out over P26 million in medical, dental and other supplies were found by COA to have been erroneously accounted for by the Emano administration.

“Of course these are deliberate errors. The City Hospital needs new management which is why there is the need to support HB 239,” he said adding how COA should have immediately moved for the filing of charges against those responsible for these anomalies.

HB 239 provides for the “upgrade and modernization of the J.R. Borja City Memorial Hospital as an extension hospital of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) in Cagayan de Oro and appropriating funds therefore.”

The bill would mean an allocation of around P127 million for the dilapidated 100-bed hospital which was assessed by the Department of Health as a mere secondary hospital as of August last year.

HB 239 is being pushed by First District Cong. Rolando Uy and Second District Cong. Rufus Rodriguez which has been approved during the 14th Congress and now pending for third and final hearing at the Senate.

But Cagayan de Oro city mayor Constantino Jaraula has certified urgent a proposed resolution vehemently opposing HB 239 for three reasons — lack of consultation, confiscatory and unconstitutional and that NMMC extension supervision to JR Borja Hospital will divest funds and deprive the city of ownership of the hospital.

Around 50 supporters of HB 239 from barangays Carmen, Patag, Gusa, Kauswagan, Lapasan and other areas in the city flocked to the City Council session hall yesterday to witness whether administration city councilors will oppose the abovementioned bill.

The PaDayon Pilipino city councilors softened their stand saying they support HB 239 but that they vehemently oppose converting the city hospital as an annex to NMMC whereby there will be transfer of ownership and management to DOH. (By Lizanilla J. Amarga)