Napulan questions millions poured into anti-rabies program
Questions have now been raised on the legality and regularity of the Iloilo Provincial Government's anti-rabies program with millions in Capitol funds spent thus far.
In a privilege speech titled "Just Asking," First District Board Member Mac Napulan called for intervention and thorough check on the program's implementation. This, as he openly wondered whether provisions in an earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was violated.
Question number one, Napulan went, was on the matter of P2 million in additional funds sought by Governor Niel Tupas.
"Do we need to appropriate an additional P2M for the Anti-rabies program of the Province of Iloilo?," he asked. Do we need to appropriate additional P2M to pay for the Anti-Rabies vaccines consumed?"
Chairman of the Committee on Health, Napulan went further to highlight MOU provisions which he said were "important" and "worth mentioning."
Foremost of the highlighted provision was that the province will set up clinic space to accommodate the set-up of an animal bite section "free of charge." It further named trained nursing staff of the RNMD Specialty Clinics as the manning staff with eight animal bites treatment centers throughout Iloilo.
As per Capitol's deal with the RNMD, the eight centers were put up in the Rep. Pedro Trono Memorial District Hospital in Guimbal, the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan and the Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial District Hospital in Januiay, Iloilo.
Centers were also in place in the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Passi City, the Jesus Colmenares District Hospital in Balasan, the Sara District Hospital in Sara, Iloilo and the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
Napulan then went on to disclose the procedures and current practice including the methods employed in the giving of vaccines. Such alongside the corresponding fees if any and the MOU provision of the RNMD's free injections.
"All these vaccines are paid by the patients except the active Anti-Rabies vaccine given in Day O which is for free but unless you have a referral coming from the office of the governor, all these vaccines active and passive are given for free," Napulan stressed.
With this disclosure, Napulan continued as he reminded the body of the initial P1.5 million appropriated by the Provincial Government for the program.
Question number two then followed that touched on whether RNMD clinics are losing. Question number three focused on the capability of RNMD nursing staff and question number four whether they alone are the ones capable here.
For Napulan, until the questions raised are satisfactorily answered then that shall be the only time the SP push for the continuance of RNMD services.