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.

During the city government’s one-stop community outreach program led by City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula, 600 patients received free medical consultation and medicine while 48 [...]]]> A total of 600 residents in baranggay Bisigan this city have availed of various basic services rendered by the city government during the People to People Program (PPP) held there Friday.

During the city government’s one-stop community outreach program led by City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula, 600 patients received free medical consultation and medicine while 48 availed of dental services and 43 boys were circumcised. A total of 419 residents in the barangay also availed of supplemental feeding, while another 350 families each took home 5 kilos of rice as part of the city’s rice assistance program.

On veterinary and agricultural services, 4 dog owners availed of rabies vaccination and de-worming for their pets while 380 seedlings of jackfruit, marang, durian and coffee and 400 packs of pechay, okra, pole sitao and kangkong seeds were distributed to farmers.

More than 30 pupils and kids also read books and learning materials, while seven residents got residence certificates, three residents paid real property tax and one registered his cattle during the activity.

The PPP highlight was the mass wedding of 2 unwed couples administered by Mayor Jaraula and Vice Mayor Vicente Y. Emano witnessed by Besigan barangay chairman Melenio H. Minister and city councilors Reynaldo Advincula, Aaron Neri, Marycor Calizo, Ian Acenas, Alden Bacal, Emmanuel Abejuela, Alexander Dacer, Dante Pajo, Simeon Licayan, Ian Mark Nacaya and Ramon Tabor. (City Information Office)

Cagayan de Oro City (9 January) — City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula ordered the reservation of one bed each in medical and surgical wards of the JR Borja General Hospital intended for senior citizens of the city.

This after City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula issued Executive Order No. 2008CGJ-003 dated [...]]]>

Cagayan de Oro City (9 January) — City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula ordered the reservation of one bed each in medical and surgical wards of the JR Borja General Hospital intended for senior citizens of the city.

This after City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula issued Executive Order No. 2008CGJ-003 dated January 7, 2008 reserving one bed each in the female and male medical and surgical wards of the city hospital for elderly citizens who are frequently in need of medical attention and hospitalization.

Mayor Jaraula came out with the bed reservation order for elderly patients upon the request of the Cagayan de Oro Federation of Senior Citizens Associations (CAFESCA) which saw the need for the purpose.

The elderly group sought the assistance of the city mayor after noting that sometimes ailing senior citizens who are in need of immediate confinement can not be accommodated in local public hospitals due to unavailability of vacant beds. (Cagayan de Oro City IO)

(Cagayan de Oro City /PIA-Philippine Information Agency)

B. EMERGENCY ROOM C. OPERATING ROOMS AND POST-ANESTHESIA CARE UNIT

2. ANCILLARY A. LABORATORY Microscopy / Bacteriology / Hematology

B. RADIOLOGY X-ray Ultrasound

C. PHARMACY

D. SPECIAL AREAS Operating Rooms / Labor Rooms / Delivery Room / Minor Operating Room / Central Supply

E. WARDS Obstetrics / Gynecology / Internal [...]]]> SERVICES OFFERED
1. CLINICAL
A. OUTPATIENT CLINIC
Surgery / Internal Medicine / Pediatrics / Obstetrics and Gynecology / Dental Clinic

B. EMERGENCY ROOM
C. OPERATING ROOMS AND POST-ANESTHESIA CARE UNIT

2. ANCILLARY
A. LABORATORY
Microscopy / Bacteriology / Hematology

B. RADIOLOGY
X-ray Ultrasound

C. PHARMACY

D. SPECIAL AREAS
Operating Rooms / Labor Rooms / Delivery Room / Minor Operating Room / Central Supply

E. WARDS
Obstetrics / Gynecology / Internal medicine / Surgical / Pediatrics