This was discovered by City Mayor Constantino “Tinnex” Jaraula himself when he conducted an ocular inspection on Feb. 15 to assess the status of [...]]]> Cagayan de Oro City (17 February) — The lack of sufficient water supply hounds the completion of the controversial J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital Annex Building Project in Cagayan de Oro City.

This was discovered by City Mayor Constantino “Tinnex” Jaraula himself when he conducted an ocular inspection on Feb. 15 to assess the status of the on-going construction of the four-storey, 400-bed capacity City Hospital Building Project.

“How can a hospital operate without water?” a visibly irked Mayor Jaraula told City Hospital Administrator Nena Salon, Acting City Administrator Griscelda Joson, City Engineer Jorie Bingona and other top City Hospital officials who accompanied the Mayor during the on-site project inspection.

After touring the hospital facility, the City Mayor blew his top upon learning from project manager Engr. Francisco Alover on the problem on basic supply of water of the hospital building.

To address the problem, Mayor Jaraula recommended to the project manager the installation of a water tank atop the building in order to ensure steady supply of water, once it operates.

“Roofing on the fourth floor and stairways must also be prioritized because this has caused flooding problem in the past that affect the lower levels of the building,” the City Mayor added.

On a positive note, however, Salon gave an update to Mayor Jaraula on the current status of the project, saying that at least 100 out of the 400 beds available on the second and third floors are basically ‘ready for occupancy’.

The hospital’s Operating Room (OR) and Delivery Room (DR) is located on the ground floor.

It can be recalled that Mayor Jaraula strongly lobbied for the release of the P62 million subsidy from the national government through the Department of Health (DOH) as part of the pledge committed by President Arroyo in August 2007.

Of the amount, some P22 million is intended for the completion of the construction of the J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital Annex Building Project.

While the remaining P40 million will be used for upgrading and expansion of the 22 barangay health centers all over Cagayan de Oro City. (City Information Office)

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

“All in all in health, [...]]]> Cagayan De Oro City (30 June) — City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula debunked criticisms that medical and hospital services are not getting fair attention from City Hall, saying that the city government is spending this year over P200 million for the J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital and the City Health Office.

“All in all in health, more than P200 million ang atong allocation. Wala nato abandonaha ang serbisyo sa panglawas sa katawhan because that is part of the services that we would want to be for Cagayan de Oro City,” Mayor Jaraula told a group of local mediamen during a press conference held yesterday afternoon at the City Mayor’s Office reception hall.

Jaraula called for a media conference to shed light on criticisms against City Hall for reportedly allocating a ‘measly’ amount from the P97 million supplemental budget which was approved lately by the City Council.

“Either ignorance or malicious, kadtong P97 million nga gipagawas was a supplemental budget ug ang gihatag sa city hospital was just an addition to the basic (annual budget allocation). But no matter how you explain this, kung malicious ang ila, dili gyud nila masabot,” Mayor Jaraula hurled back to his critics, adding that the criticisms… “only come ignorance on local governance”.

For the ‘respectable’ operation of the J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital, Mayor Jaraula explained that the city has allocated this year an amount of P91.347 million for the city-run hospital.

This amount is broken down as follows: P50.647 million for personal services which is basically intended for salaries, wages and allowances for doctors, dentists, nurses and other health personnel; P32.9 million for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE); P27.8 million for drugs and medicines and P5 million for other expenses.

Like the city-run hospital that caters to the basic health needs of the poor people, Mayor Tinnex said the city government has set aside some P109.1 million for the City Health Office operations.

This covers P60 million for personal services, P24.5 million for MOOE, P17.5 million for drugs and medicines and P7 million for other expenses.

In addition from local funds, Mayor Jaraula said the local government got a P62 million subsidy from the national government through the Department of Health (DOH) as part of the pledge of commitment by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in August 2007.

Of the said amount, according to Mayor Jaraula, some P22 million is intended for the completion of the construction of the J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital Annex Building Project, while the remaining P40 million will be used for upgrading and expansion of the 22 barangay health centers all over the city.

Aside from this, Jaraula said the city government is deploying two units of mobile clinics in an efforts to address the health needs of the ‘poorest of the poor’ and underprivileged residents in the hinterland areas under the so-called “Forwarding Delivery of Basic Health Services Program”.

A three-man team composed of a doctor, a dentist and a nurse will be assigned to each mobile clinic while extending medical and dental services to the residents in upland barangays, he added.

With barangay Lumbia serving as its base point, the first unit, which was delivered lately, will serve barangays Bayanga, Mambuaya, Dansolihon, Tignapoloan and Besigan while the other mobile clinic will cover barangays Pagalungan, Tagpangi, Taglimao, Tuburan, Pigsag-an and Tumpagon.

Mayor Jaraula hopes that the deployment of the two mobile clinics will help reduce the patient population at the overcrowded city-run J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital, especially those coming from far-flung barangays.

With the mobile clinic doing regular stopover at every covered barangay, poor patients will no longer have to travel to the City Hospital to avail of medical check-up and other health services, the Mayor said.

The mobile clinic could also serve as an emergency ambulance if a patient needs an immediate transport to a nearest hospital during emergency cases, he concluded. (CIO)

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

Cagayan de Oro City – Doctors, nurses and hospital employees of the city government-run J.R. Borja Memorial Hospital here are in an uproar over the reported reinstatement of a former hospital administrator and current city health officer whom they accused of corruption and grave misconduct.

Last year, at least [...]]]> by Ma. Cecilia Rodriguez, Inquirer Mindanao
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cagayan de Oro City – Doctors, nurses and hospital employees of the city government-run J.R. Borja Memorial Hospital here are in an uproar over the reported reinstatement of a former hospital administrator and current city health officer whom they accused of corruption and grave misconduct.

Last year, at least five cases had been filed against Dr. Jerry Calingasan before the Ombudsman, including one for his alleged involvement in the purchase of overpriced medicines and hospital equipment.

Among the other complaints raised by the employees were the purchase of an alleged low quality X-ray machine for P6.5 million and the bulk purchase of antibiotics which were reportedly priced 200 percent higher than its regular selling price.

In November 2007, Mayor Constantino Jaraula removed Calingasan as administrator of the hospital and replaced him with Dr. Fe Tagayuna.

However, last week, word came out that Calingasan would be reinstated as administrator and that Tagayuna, a veteran pediatric surgeon, would be assigned to rural barangays.

This drew protest from the hospital staff who said they were fearful that Calingasan would get back at them.

Chona Pepania, spokesperson for the hospital staff, said the poor state of the city hospital is due largely to corruption and politicking.

EVIDENCE

An unfinished hospital building that has remained useless for more than 10 years stand as plain evidence of the corruption and neglect that has marred the hospital for years, she said.

“We actually don’t know where the budget [for the hospital] goes. We even don;t know exactly how much is alloted for supplies and equipment,” said Pepania, who appealed to the mayor to respond to the needs of the hospital rather than succumb to political accomodation.

BUDGET cuts on City Hall departments’ allocation continue to be revealed as the deliberations for next year’s budget continues Thursday.

The dilapidated city-run J.R. Borja General Hospital’s total maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) for next year is P32,915,000, a measly increase from this year’s P32,699,647.

Dr. Dures Fe [...]]]> By Cong B. Corrales / Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro

BUDGET cuts on City Hall departments’ allocation continue to be revealed as the deliberations for next year’s budget continues Thursday.

The dilapidated city-run J.R. Borja General Hospital’s total maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) for next year is P32,915,000, a measly increase from this year’s P32,699,647.

Dr. Dures Fe Tagayuna, the hospital chief, said she requested for additional personnel but with the slight increase in its budget, she said she will have to make do with what City Hall has allocated for the hospital.

Asked if she is satisfied with its budget, she said: “We will work within our budget appropriation.”

Councilor Simeon Licayan, chair of the budget committee deliberating on the budget proposal, asked City Treasurer Lino Daral if he had already released the P10 million budget for the city hospital, Daral readily said he has done so.

Dr. Tagayuna, however, said they have yet to see the official notice of the release of the P10 million.

The session hall was further animated when the budget allocation for the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) department’s MOOE for next year on Day Care Services was found to have been slashed by half.

Day Care Services is the budgetary item which will pay for the materials used by Day Care workers. For this year, the budget allocation for the said item is P115,000 while for 2009 the amount has reduced to P65,000.

Even administration councilors were surprised when, CSWD officer-in-charge Marisa Tagarda told the committee that there are 44 Day Care workers who have not received their honorarium.

Committee on health and social services chair Dante Pajo, which oversees CSWD, was surprised by the budget cuts saying departments like CSWD need to be supported amply to function properly.

“I will fight for the honorarium of Day Care workers. Imagine, adunay 44 ka buok nga wala pa sukad nakadawat og honorarium gikan sa syudad,” Pajo said in an interview with Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

Tagarda also pointed to other slashed items in the CSWD budget allocation.

Total MOOE for children dropped from P10,573,753 for this year to only P9,679,451 for next year, a budget cut of P894,302. For persons with disabilites, the total MOOE this year is P815,000 while for next year allocation will be P810,000.

The total appropriations for CSWD this year is P37,962,342. The department will have to operate next year with less money, with next year’s appropriations totaling only P35,588,269 or a cut of over two million pesos.

Pajo called Daral’s budget proposal as too “conservative” and that Daral should seriously consider the needs of the departments.

“He (Daral) should consider the needs of every department especially on budgetary items nga ‘must’ for their effective operations,” a visibly irked Pajo said.

It may be recalled that Mayor Jaraula ordered in March this year the release of P59 Million for the completion of the 3rd floor of the city government-run hospital which has hindered [...]]]> by Ian A. Fuentes/city Information Office
City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula is strongly pushing to make the J.R. Borja General Hospital operational within this year.

It may be recalled that Mayor Jaraula ordered in March this year the release of P59 Million for the completion of the 3rd floor of the city government-run hospital which has hindered the utilization of the first two floors of the annex building.

Mayor Jaraula earlier said that while the first two floors of the building have already been completed, the same can not be used as the rainwater that accumulates at the third floor will readily flow down and flood the two lower floors.

The said condition can be remedied once the third floor will be walled, thereby preventing rainwater from flooding it.  Mayor Jaraula is optimistic that with the completion of the annex building, the city government-owned hospital can expand its medical services to more residents in the city and neighboring places this year.

With the opening of the annex building, the city government hospital can accommodate an additional of 100 hospital beds, thereby decongesting the number of patients accommodated daily at the old hospital building.            The completion of the J.R. Borja General Hospital remains as one of the top priority projects of the administration of Mayor Jaraula in an effort to extend affordable medical and health needs of the ‘poorest of the poor’ sector of the city.

The city mayor is focusing on the status of the project after a U.S-based medical group “Physicians For Peace” backed out from their offer to hold a medical mission at the City Hospital due to lack of facilities.

Another American medical group also wants to conduct a free medical mission in Cagayan de Oro City, but, again unfortunately declined to hold the free clinic after learning on the poor physical status of the city hospital.