Restoration of SUCs, UP, PGH budgets gains support

BASILAN Representative Mujiv Hataman has sought financial aid for the funding of the Basilan General Hospital (BGH), which, even though there is an implementing law mandating its upgrade from Level 1 to Level 2 in 1998, suffered an alleged lack of support from the Department of Health (DOH).

“Dalawampu’t apat na taon nang nagtitiis at nagsasakripisyo ang mga taga-Basilan sa isang ospital na sana ay na-upgrade na mula pa noong 1998,” Hataman said.

“Supervised na ito (BGH) ng DOH. Ibig sabihin niyan 24 years taon-taon hindi nila kayang pondohan.”

“Sana naman ay pagtuunan na ito ng pansin sa 2023 budget at masimulan na ang pag-aayos sa susunod na taon,” Hataman said.

During the deliberation of the DOH budget, Hataman bared the existence of Republic Act (RA) No. 8543, a law that mandates the upgrade of BGH that was passed on Feb. 23, 1998, or 24 years ago. Up to now, BGH remains a Level 1 hospital, authorized to house only 25 beds.

In a related development, Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado thanked the “openness” of his colleagues for restoring the cuts in the proposed budgets of state universities and colleges (SUCs), the University of the Philippines (UP) System, and the UP-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH).

“I am categorically and strongly calling for the restoration of the budget cuts of SUCs and the University of the Philippines, particularly the Philippine General Hospital, Madam Speaker,” Bordado told the plenary budget deliberations presided by Deputy Speaker Gloria Arroyo last Wednesday.

Bordado expressed gratitude to his colleagues, especially Cebu Rep. Peter John Calderon, for supporting the UP System and the UP-PGH budget restoration.

“Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, Mr. Sponsor. So we will do everything to restore the budget cuts of the SUCs, particularly the UP-PGH,” Bordado said.

Through a motion, Bordado would also restore cuts in the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) of SUCs, which suffered the most because of the lower budget for next year.

Under the national budget, a P2.5 billion reduction in the UP system’s budget was recorded, and another P893 million from the proposed budget of the UP-PGH.

The National Expenditure Program (NEP), or the basis of the 2023 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), has allocated P23.10 billion for UP System, which is lower than this year’s P25.6 billion budget.

In the case of the education sector, Bordado said it will only receive a total of P852.8 billion, covering the Department of Education (DepEd), state universities and colleges (SUCs), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).