Capitol, IHWA compromise deal fails
The Iloilo Provincial Government and Iloilo Health Workers Association Inc. have failed to enter into a compromise agreement that would have paved way for the release of the hazard pay of all the health workers in the province, a report from the Capitol said.
Defensor yesterday said during the flag-raising ceremony that he has done everything to resolve the problem with the IHWA but to no avail.
He said the organization’s board of directors did not accept the compromise that he offered which is to grant the hazard pay of the health workers retroactive to January this year.
Defensor, however, said that despite the refusal of the IHWA board to accept the compromise agreement, he has decided not to withdraw the appropriation intended for the health workers in the 2010 Executive Budget which amounts to about P55 million.
“Let the appropriation for the hazard pay stay…I did not ask the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to withdraw the appropriation. This is to show to them that I am serious with my proposal,” Defensor said.
Defensor noted that 72 percent or majority of the health workers in the province signed the manifesto accepting the compromise agreement.
“For the sake of the majority, I have decided to retain the appropriation intended for the health workers,” the governor added.
Defensor, however, said that the money will not be touched. “It shall be held in abeyance until the IHWA board accepts the compromise agreement that I am offering.”
“If they continue to refuse then so be it. We shall proceed with the case,” Defensor said.
The governor said the provincial government cannot wait any longer for the budget to be passed. “We need money for our fuels for our vehicles, we need money for our hospitals, the welfare of the great majority should not be sacrificed just because of the whims of the few.”*
