Overall budget plan for COVID-19 operations until end of year sought

The Baguio City Council has requested the Local Finance Committee to formulate the total budgetary requirements for the city’s COVID-19 response operations for the remaining months of this year.

During the council’s regular session last Monday, Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda inquired whether the funds allocated for the city’s operational response to COVID-19 will be adequately sustained up to the end of the year.

Previously, the city council approved the request of the executive body for a supplemental budget in the amount of P94.29 million to augment the funds of the city for its COVID-19 operations.

The projects to be funded by the 97.29-M supplementary budget are the following:

Maintenance of the two isolation facilities, Sto. Nino Hospital (P18,143,761.00) and Baguio Teacher’s Camp (P16,714,494.00); contact tracing operations (P20,287,656.00); Baguio Convention Center Triage (P13,415,248.00); COVID-19 vaccine roll-out activity (P20,635,316.00); protecting and shielding the vulnerable population (P4,338,600.00), strengthening the conduct of mass testing to constituents (P400,000.00); mental health care and wellness program (P201,450.00); and strengthening the Emergency Operation Center/One Hospital Command Center (P162,864.00).

City Health Services Officer Rowena Galpo told the council that all needed projects related to covid19 response for the remaining months of the year are already covered by the recently approved supplementary budget.

However, Tabanda suggested that an overall budget plan be made and submitted to the city council so as to determine whether the allocated funds are sufficient.

Meanwhile, Galpo mentioned that the 43-M remittance from PhilHealth-Cordillera Administrative Region does not suffice to sustain the operations of the Sto. Nino Hospital and Baguio Teacher’s Camp Isolation Unit, especially that not all patients admitted in the said facilities are assured PhilHealth coverage.

“As per the Department of Health (DOH) memorandum, only those within the age range of 18-59 admitted in the facilities are covered by PhilHealth. Anyone below or above [the age range] is no longer covered,” Galpo stated.

Last year, the Baguio City Community Isolation Unit at the former Sto. Niño Hospital with a 360-bed capacity and the Baguio Teachers Camp with a 316-bed capacity were accredited by PhilHealth for the isolation requirements of mild and asymptomatic patients.

Tabanda requested the City Legal Office to study whether the agreement between PhilHealth-CAR and the city government regarding the limitations in the PhilHealth coverage is in accordance with the Universal Health Care (UHC).

“If you are declared by a PhilHealth member as a dependent or if you’re a senior citizen, shouldn’t you be automatically covered by PhilHealth? Why are some patients disqualified?” Tabanda asked.

Atty. Richard Dayag, City Legal Officer, agreed to study the memorandum of agreement between Philhealth-CAR and the city government and promised to come up with recommendations. –Jordan G. Habbiling