BHW master list undergoes 'clean-up': SP meets today on over P23M Capitol give-aways
In principle, Iloilo's 7,896 Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) stand to receive anew P2,000 each in cash gift from the coffers of the Iloilo Provincial Government. As such, in principle as well, the Iloilo Provincial Government is ready to give out over P23 million for the group – all volunteer workers in Iloilo's 1,721 barangays.
In fact, members of the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) meet today for a special session with the BHW honoraria as among the major items up for final deliberations.
This as the Committee on Appropriations chaired by Vice Governor Rolex Suplico folded up earlier this week the committee hearings on the matter. What was agreed with the Capitol heads and members of the Local Finance Committee were provisions and conditions set up relative to the P23 million release and eventual distribution.
Yes to the cash gift cum entitlements of the volunteer barangay workers, Suplico said, yet no, not that easy particularly since at stake is taxpayers' money of over P23 million.
The vice governor has since led calls for "proper and legal" P2,000 distribution. First off, the committee now awaits, is the "Master List" of the beneficiaries amidst concerns of a 'bloated' list of recipients.
In a text message, the vice governor clarified his position as he decried what he termed were "malicious insinuations" stating his alleged refusal to receive the BHW master list.
Suplico requested for a meeting with Provincial Health Officer (PHO) Dr. Patricia Trabado.
"We discussed among others the fact that PHO is busy cleaning up the list. After this baseless allegation came out shortly thereafter, I met again with Dr. Trabado, Ms Imperial and Bords Morales who asked me about it at around noon today in my office, we cleared up the matter with Mr. Morales. It is true that Ms. imperial showed me the list last Friday Dec 12 in my office. I returned the list afterwards to her for the following reasons 1. There is only one list 2. I don't want to lose it. The keeper of the list by law is the PHO which has jurisdiction over BHWs. 3. The PHO has to clean the list of those who left the country, those who ceased to be BHWs and those who are BHWs and at the same are BSPOs, Day Care Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars. 4. PHO has to encode the list in a form that maybe attached to the appropriation ordinance. As of noontime, PHO is still busy cleaning up the list altogether with the officers of the BHW provl federation at around 1pm today. The allegation is therefore a malicious insinuation. It is a lie," Suplico said.
Morales is the Capitol beat reporter of Aksyon Radyo.
Meantime, sentiments for and against the P23 million Capitol give-away generated extensive coverage in various local radio stations.
Yes it is perfectly okay to share the Capitol's blessings yet a bigger yes, it indeed needs a "thoroughly checked master list of recipients" came the similar message. And make it clear it is the people's money not a personal gift from any family.
Suplico is expected to push for P23 million distribution coursed through respective Iloilo town's treasury and not the Capitol. He also would not want a repeat of last year's practice that had Governor Niel Tupas and his family distribute the honoraria "as if it was a family gift to our BHWs."
"Make it a non-political, non-partisan release," the vice governor stressed.