August 3, 2009
Greetings!
There have been three BOR meetings since my last report to you: the May 29 meeting in UPV Iloilo, a June 3 special meeting held at Quezon Hall, the regular BOR meeting on June 25, also held at Quezon Hall and the July 31 meeting at UP Manila . My backlog in reporting to you was due mainly to the opening of the semester and the demands of being a faculty member in my department and in my college.
Staff Regent Buboy Cabrera took his oath last May 29, 2009 in Iloilo . In the July 31 meeting, Charisse Bañez, Student Regent elected last April 14, was finally confirmed. In that same meeting, the new UP Alumni Association President Alfredo Pascual took his oath as the new Alumni Regent.
Below are important highlights of the meetings related to the following concerns: Faculty and personnel welfare, proposals deferred for further study, the issue of the six economics students found guilty of misconduct; programming and reprogramming of UP System and CU funds; and the reiteration of concern over the two missing students.
A. Faculty and personnel welfare
1. New Salary Standardization Law
The University of the Philippines is included in the new salary increase for government employees effective July 1, 2009 based on the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Resolution No. 4, series of 2009, Executive Order 811 and National Budget Circular 521. President Roman announced in the July meeting that DBM has transmitted to the University the funds to implement the increase for the first year.
I proposed to the BOR in the July 31 meeting an increase in lecturers’ rates based on the formula used in the March 26, 2009 BOR approval of adjustments in the rates of UP lecturers. This is to ensure that the university upholds the principle of equity and that its lecturers also benefit from the recent salary increase of all government personnel. President Roman said this is being studied by the UP administration.
2. Faculty and personnel benefits
- The Board approved the grant of a P5, 000 merit incentive to UP personnel last June 25, 2009. This is the first of two annual benefits given by the university. Lecturers are included in this benefit on a pro-rated basis. The new provision approved by the board is the encouragement to provide a similar benefit to project-hired personnel if funds are available.
- The first rice subsidy worth P1,500 was approved last May 29 and the second one was approved last July 31. This grant is in compliance with the Collective Negotiation Agreements between UP and the All UP Workers Union and between UP and the All UP Academic Employees Union. Project and contractual employees of units which have savings are encouraged to grant the same rice subsidy to these personnel.
- Increase in Annual Awards for Faculty Grants: Professorial Chairs: From P30,000 to a minimum of P50,000 and Faculty Grants: From P15,000 to P25,000
3. Promotions
- The 2008 promotions have been approved and will be in effect from April 1, 2009
- Sagad faculty will receive a one-time grant of P5,000 and Sagad REPS and administrative staff will receive a one-time grant of P3,000. The Staff Regent and I have proposed that this grant be increased by P3, 000 for both faculty and staff. President Roman said the UP Administration will reexamine the possibility of giving this at the end of the year depending on the university’s savings.
B. Proposals from the UP Administration deferred for further study
1. Construction of the IE-ME building
The proposal of UPD to allow the construction of the IE-ME building in the current site of the College of Engineering was approved in the June 2009 meeting. Former UPD Chancellor sought a reconsideration of the Board’s decision in the July 31, 2009. The Board formed a Regents’ Committee to look into the two main issues surrounding this concern: why the IE-ME building cannot be built in the new Engineering complex where the buildings of the other departments of the college have been built or will be built in the future; the possibility that the P300 million allocation for the building will be lost if the project is not started before December 2009
2. UP Naming Rights Policy
The UP Administration presented to the BOR in the July 31 meeting new and additional proposals on the existing “Guidelines for Naming Buildings, Structures, Streets, Parks and Other places in the university approved by the UP President on 27 July 2004 and noted by the BOR at its 1185th meeting on 26 of August 2004.
The present policy regarding naming of buildings, structures, streets, parks and other places in the University after living persons or juridical persons shall be allowed only when it is made a condition in a donation in favor of the University and for meritorious considerations.
The additional/new proposed provision (among others) is:
Buildings: A proposal for naming a building (or significant and identifiable section of a building) in honor of a person or organization may consider when that person or organization:
- is a major benefactor who makes a direct and substantial contribution to the capital cost of constructing the building (at least 50% of project cost) or
- has given extraordinarily distinguished service to the University that merits recognition in the University’s history (on special recommendation by the President to, and subsequent approval by, the Board of Regents.
My main criticism is that the new proposal gives naming rights to UP buildings based solely on financial considerations, in effect institutionalizing another form of “UP for Sale ”. Traditionally UP buildings have been named after heroes, dead statesmen and women or deceased outstanding academic and administrative leaders of the University. Recognition of financial donations to the university has been in the form of commemorative plaques and the naming of professorial and faculty chairs. I believe this tradition and practice should remain.
The Board decided to defer making a decision on this and on a related proposal of the Asian Studies to name the new Asian Center facilities donated by Toyota Motor Philippines to the University: entire 1 hectare property to be named GT-Toyota Asian cultural Center, The museum-library research institute building to be named GT-Toyota Hall of Wisdom and the auditorium be named GT-Toyota Asian Auditorium. (GT stands for George Ty)
3.UP Manila – PGH Faculty Medical Arts Building
The University and the Mercado General Hospital signed last June 18, 2009 a contract for the lease, conversion and development of a certain area of the PGH Dispensary Building situated at the PGH to be called the UP Manila-PGH Faculty Medical Arts Building .
When presented for approval in the June 25, 2009 meeting, the decision was deferred due to the following:
- The contract does not only provide clinic space for UP doctors to allow them to practice their profession instead of going to private hospitals (a provision not objected to by the Board) but also allows the Mercado General Hospital to put up a pharmacy, x-ray facilities and laboratories. These facilities are already found in PGH.
- The rental rate is P1,000,000 per month (net of all taxes) subject to a yearly increase or escalation at the rate of 10% per annum commencing on the 6th year of the term of the lease. ( I do not have the figures on the floor area being leased so as to compare the rental per square meter in this contract to the current per square meter rates of commercial buildings across PGH).
- The period of lease is 25 years exclusive of a rent-free period of 18 months from date of signing of contract within which the lessee must perform, comply with and complete all the works for the conversion, rehabilitation and development of FAB
- The contract may be renewed for a maximum period of five years.
The BOR has also formed a Regents’ Committee to examine further the concerns raised by the All UP Workers Union of UP Manila-PGH and concerns raised by the BOR Chair, the Faculty Regent and the Staff Regent.
4. UP Manila Campus Development Master Plan and UP Diliman’s Comprehensive Land Use, Zoning and Master Plans
Decisions on the two above proposals presented to the July 31, 2009 BOR meeting were deferred to enable the board to further study them.
5. Expanding the search for a new Director of UPPEP
The term of the Director of the UP Pampanga Extension Program ended last May 31, 2009. Two names were nominated: the current Director, a UPPEP professor and a professor from UP Diliman. The latter did not accept the nomination.
The BOR decided to expand the search for a director as there were strong reservations about the two nominees. The current director has already served three terms and her selection would mean a fourth term or a total of 12 continuous years as academic and administrative leader of UP Pampanga. The other nominee has very limited support from the faculty of the unit.
C. The UPD University Council and the BOR on the 6 Economics Students accused of cheating during an examination and found guilty of “other forms of misconduct”
The UPD UC on April 2008 approved the graduation of several School of Economics students accused of cheating during an examination. As their case was still being heard by the Student Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), the UC decided, on the principle of “presumption of innocence” voted to allow them to graduate “without prejudice to the final determination of the disciplinary cases and without prejudice to the appropriate corrective measures to be undertaken by the University should the decision be against them.”
On April 2009, the UC once again discussed the case as six of the students were found by the SDT guilty of misconduct and imposed a penalty 45 days suspension. The students did not appeal the decision. The UC deliberated on how this penalty would be served and after over two hours of discussion voted 126 for, 73 against and 13 abstain, that the graduation be withdrawn so that the students could enroll for residency and serve their suspension.
In the June 3, 2009 special BOR meeting to discuss the decision of the UPD UC, the BOR by a vote of 5 for, 3 against and 1 abstain approved the motion to confirm the graduation of the six students…without need of serving the penalty of 45 days suspension imposed by the SDT because the same is deemed to be served.”
In the June 25 regular BOR meeting, I submitted a motion for reconsideration of this decision and also requested for the Board to provide an explanation of this decision. The Chair broke the 4-4 vote in favor of denying the reconsideration.
In the July 31, 2009 meeting the Board rejected two resolutions passed by the University Council in its July 20, 2009 meeting. One resolution protested the June 3 decision of the BOR and requested for reconsideration . The other resolution was for withdrawing the honors of students found guilty of misconduct. In response to the UC's reiteration of the need for transparency regarding the bases for the BOR decisions, the Chair instructed the Office of the Secretary of the University to release to the UPD UC the record of the deliberations of the BOR meetings (June 3, June 25 and July 31) related to this case.
D. Programming and Reprogramming of Funds of the System and CUs
· May 29, 2009:
- Open U: P9, 525,636.25
- UP System: P55, 486,855.22
· June 25, 2009
- UP Visayas: (Programming of Income): P1, 289, 746.21
- UP Manila : (Reprogramming of unexpended balances: P40, 876,409.57
- UP Diliman: (Reprogramming of Unexpended Obligations under the GAA): P35, 216,137.85
· July 31, 2009
- UP System (Reprogramming of unexpended balances): P20, 655,073.38
- UP Diliman (Programming of income): P13, 771, 429, 21
E. Reiteration of UP’s concern over missing UP Students
As the June 25, 2009 meeting was just a day before the third anniversary of the abduction of UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, who disappeared on June 26, 2006, I shared with the board the UPD University Council resolution dated July 26, 2006.
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* The 2009-2010 Faculty Regent is Dr. Judy Taguiwalo. She is presently a professor from the College of Social Work and Community Development and a former National President of the All U.P. Academic Employees Union
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
To Those Who Mourn for Tita Cory....
A Letter from the NY Committee from Human Rights in the Philippines
Reference: Peter Arvin Jabido, NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, email: nychrp@gmail.com
The NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines sends its condolences to the Cojuanco-Aquino family and joins the Filipino people in mourning the death of former Philippine President Corazon "Cory" Aquino last weekend after a long and brave battle against cancer.
During the three-year exile of the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino in the United States to seek medical treatment, the Aquino family settled in Boston and traveled frequently to New York City, where there still remains the legacy of an anti-fascist, anti-dictatorship, pro-democracy movement of overseas Filipino professionals. Many from New York City supported the Aquino family as the movement to oppose the Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos can also be attributed to uniting broad ranks of Filipinos overseas as well as in Manila and throughout the Philippines.
By now, Cory Aquino's story is well-known. From the shadow of her murdered husband, this "mere housewife"-- as described by Marcos-- rose to become the first woman president of the Philippines and in Asia. The combination of Ninoy's tragedy and Cory's victory not only fast-tracked the toppling of a 20-year old dictatorship, it brought various Filipinos from different social standings together and was a wake-up call to the possibility of collective action and nationwide unity in order to make it happen. It also led to the release of hundreds of government critics who had been imprisoned and tortured by the Marcos government for political beliefs, as well as the exploration of peace prospects through negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, who have been in engaged in a 40 year old civil war.
These, perhaps, should be the most-remembered and lasting contributions of "Tita Cory", as she was fondly known.
Though Tita Cory's presidency had its notable shortcomings-- including a fraudulent land reform program that led to the shooting of indignant farmers calling for genuine land reform along Mendiola Bridge in 1987, as well as human rights violations committed by the same Armed Forces of the Philippines responsible for Martial Law-- these cannot deny its strong pursuit of reforms in the name of restoring democracy after Marcos. These include the formal closing of the former permanent US military bases after nearly a century of establishment, the restoring of the Philippine Congress as a pillar of democracy that had been dismantled under Marcos, and the creation of the 1987 Philippine Constitution to include specific provisions that limit foreign intervention and promote Philippine sovereignty as well as safeguard against executive abuse of power in the form of martial rule.
Though moral conviction against tyranny and corruption made Tita Cory stand apart from previous Philippine administrations and earned her the support of the Catholic Church, it also subjected her to the wrath of destabilizers within her own government and military that sought to bring her down. In the end, Tita Cory's popularity withstood several attempts at military coup d'etat to overthrow her.
Even after retiring from the presidency, Tita Cory publicly stood up against gross government corruption traced to both the administrations of Joseph Estrada and most recently with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Now the pro-sovereignty provisions to the Philippine Constitution that Cory's administration introduced stand to be erased due to a relentless campaign for greed and power under Arroyo, as exemplified through Arroyo's Charter Change. Though many have compared these two women presidents of the Philippines and pointed out their incidental similarities, let us focus on what makes them starkly different.
While Cory's administration saw the formal closing of the permanent US military bases, Gloria's administration seeks to formally restore them.
While Cory publicly opposed corruption, Gloria is guilty of committing and promoting it.
While Cory framed the 1987 Philippine Constitution seeking restore democracy, Gloria wants threatens democracy by seeking to change it.
While Cory freed political prisoners who were illegally detained and tortured, Gloria continues to illegally detain and torture critics of her regime.
While Cory stood up against Marcos, Gloria is emulating Marcos.
While Cory proved her moral credibility with the people, the church and international community, Gloria has lost all moral credibility with the people, the church and the international community.
In her final years, Tita Cory was one of the few from the Philippine political elite who asked Arroyo to step down from the presidency. She remained firm to this position to her deathbed.
The fight inspired by Tita Cory in 1986 is far from over. Genuine democracy in the Philippines has yet to be restored and realized.
Let the movement that Tita Cory inspired not be in vain. In the midst of another tyrannical government, let us again unite from Manila, to New York City, to the far-flung provinces of the Philippines against corruption, rising fascism, and dictatorship.
As millions now gather to mourn, let us mourn as Tita Cory would want us to-- not just by tying yellow ribbons or flashing the "L" hand signs, but by continuing the people's movement in aspiration for genuine sovereignty, democracy, and peace.
Towards Unity & Nationhood,
The NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines
--
New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines
www.nychrp.org
email: nychrp@gmail.com
Thursday, July 30, 2009
DMMC-FMAB Salot sa Kalusugan ng Mamamayan: Tutulan! Labanan!
Pagkatapos magpalabas ng kalatas ang unyon para tutulan ang pagsasapribado ng PGH Faculty Medical Arts Building (FMAB) noong ika-18 ng Hunyo 2009 ay may pahayag mula sa isang opisyal ng UP College of Medicine at consultant din ng ospital na: “Bakit ba kayo sa unyon ay tumututol pa sa posibleeng kikitain ng PGH mula sa FMAB? Saan nyo ba nais kumuha ng pondo ang ospital para ipandagdag sa kakapusan ng ibinibigay ng gobyerno?”
Samakatuwid, marami ang nasa Administrasyon ngayon ng mahal nating ospital na ang utak ay hindi na serbisyo kungdi ang kumita. Sa halip ang atupagin ay ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mamamayan sa abot-kayang serbisyong pangkalusugan at igiit ang kaukulang pondo mula sa gobyerno para dito; ang pinagka-abalahan ay ang pag-paplano at pagpapatupad kung papaano pa mahuthutan ang naghihirap nang Sambayanan.
Sa harap ng papalaking bilang ng nawawalan ng trabaho at mga pamilyang nagugutom at siyang bumubuo ng may halos nobenta porsiyento (90%) ng mga pasyente ng ospital ay may sikmura pa silang magpapatupad ng dagdag singil sa mga serbsiyong ibinibigay ng ospital.
Inuulit po natin, ang unyon ay hindi tumututol sa geographical private practice ng ating mga medical consultant, ang ayaw natin ay ang pagtatatayo pa ng mga pribadong pasilidad sa loob ng PGH para kumpetensiyahan ang mga serbisyong ibinibigay ng ospital tulad ng Pharmacy, Laboratory, Radiology, Diagnostic/endoscopic Examinations at iba pa. May mga karanasan na tayo kung saan nagsimula lamang sa paunti-unti partisipasyon ng pribadong mamumuhunan sa mga serbisyong ipinagkaloob ng ospital subalit sa kalaunan sa pamamagitan ng polisiyang ipinatupad ng PGH Administration mismo, pinatay na rin nito ang sariling serbisyo at buong-buo nang ipinaupaya sa pribado, tulad halimbawa ng mga Mechanical Ventilator/Respirator. Sa ngayon ay hindi na nagpopondo ang ospital sa pambili ng sariling respirator dahil nandidiyan naman daw ang mga private respirator leasing companies para magpa-upa (kahit sa charity) sa mga pasyenteng gagamit nito. Tipid na raw sa ”maintenance,” kumikita pa ang ospital mula sa porsiyento ng upa.
Kung atin pa ring matandaan noong dekada nubenta (’90s), may isang mataas na opisyal ng ospital ang may-ari din ng parmasya sa harap ng PGH kaya’t ang nangyari, madalas na walang gamot ang parmasya ng ospital, at ang lahat halos na wala sa parmasya ng PGH ay mabibili mo sa parmasya sa harapan ng ospital.
Ang tawag sa isyung ito ay malinaw na ”conflict of interest.” Tayo ay pumasok sa PGH para magbigay serbisyo sa mamamayan, hindi para pagkakakitaan kahit pa yaong mga kapos-palad nating mga kababayan.
Mula sa mga karanasang ito, maaring sa malapit na hinaharap, kung matuloy ang “private” FMAB, ang madalas na kulang sa gamot o reagent o, pagkasira ng mga gamit ay gawing dahilan ng mga utak negosyong nasa Administrasyon ng PGH upang tuluyan ng isara nito ang PGH Pharmacy, Laboratory, Radiology at iba pa at ipaubaya na lang sa mga private companies ang mga pangangailangan ng ospital sa mga nabanggit na pasilidad. - lantay at tahasan nang pribatisasyon at pagtalikod ng estado sa responsibilidad nitong ipagkaloob sa mamamayan ang abot-kayang serbisyong pangkalusugan.
Tutulan ang pribatisasyon sa PGH! Tutulan ang pagratipika ng Board of Regents sa Memorandum of Agreement sa pagitan ng PGH at Daniel Mercado Medical Center kaugnay sa FMAB.
Singilin ang gobyernong GMA sa responsibilidad nito sa Sambayanang Pilipino!
Ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mamamayan sa serbisyong pangkalusugan!
Samakatuwid, marami ang nasa Administrasyon ngayon ng mahal nating ospital na ang utak ay hindi na serbisyo kungdi ang kumita. Sa halip ang atupagin ay ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mamamayan sa abot-kayang serbisyong pangkalusugan at igiit ang kaukulang pondo mula sa gobyerno para dito; ang pinagka-abalahan ay ang pag-paplano at pagpapatupad kung papaano pa mahuthutan ang naghihirap nang Sambayanan.
Sa harap ng papalaking bilang ng nawawalan ng trabaho at mga pamilyang nagugutom at siyang bumubuo ng may halos nobenta porsiyento (90%) ng mga pasyente ng ospital ay may sikmura pa silang magpapatupad ng dagdag singil sa mga serbsiyong ibinibigay ng ospital.
Inuulit po natin, ang unyon ay hindi tumututol sa geographical private practice ng ating mga medical consultant, ang ayaw natin ay ang pagtatatayo pa ng mga pribadong pasilidad sa loob ng PGH para kumpetensiyahan ang mga serbisyong ibinibigay ng ospital tulad ng Pharmacy, Laboratory, Radiology, Diagnostic/endoscopic Examinations at iba pa. May mga karanasan na tayo kung saan nagsimula lamang sa paunti-unti partisipasyon ng pribadong mamumuhunan sa mga serbisyong ipinagkaloob ng ospital subalit sa kalaunan sa pamamagitan ng polisiyang ipinatupad ng PGH Administration mismo, pinatay na rin nito ang sariling serbisyo at buong-buo nang ipinaupaya sa pribado, tulad halimbawa ng mga Mechanical Ventilator/Respirator. Sa ngayon ay hindi na nagpopondo ang ospital sa pambili ng sariling respirator dahil nandidiyan naman daw ang mga private respirator leasing companies para magpa-upa (kahit sa charity) sa mga pasyenteng gagamit nito. Tipid na raw sa ”maintenance,” kumikita pa ang ospital mula sa porsiyento ng upa.
Kung atin pa ring matandaan noong dekada nubenta (’90s), may isang mataas na opisyal ng ospital ang may-ari din ng parmasya sa harap ng PGH kaya’t ang nangyari, madalas na walang gamot ang parmasya ng ospital, at ang lahat halos na wala sa parmasya ng PGH ay mabibili mo sa parmasya sa harapan ng ospital.
Ang tawag sa isyung ito ay malinaw na ”conflict of interest.” Tayo ay pumasok sa PGH para magbigay serbisyo sa mamamayan, hindi para pagkakakitaan kahit pa yaong mga kapos-palad nating mga kababayan.
Mula sa mga karanasang ito, maaring sa malapit na hinaharap, kung matuloy ang “private” FMAB, ang madalas na kulang sa gamot o reagent o, pagkasira ng mga gamit ay gawing dahilan ng mga utak negosyong nasa Administrasyon ng PGH upang tuluyan ng isara nito ang PGH Pharmacy, Laboratory, Radiology at iba pa at ipaubaya na lang sa mga private companies ang mga pangangailangan ng ospital sa mga nabanggit na pasilidad. - lantay at tahasan nang pribatisasyon at pagtalikod ng estado sa responsibilidad nitong ipagkaloob sa mamamayan ang abot-kayang serbisyong pangkalusugan.
Tutulan ang pribatisasyon sa PGH! Tutulan ang pagratipika ng Board of Regents sa Memorandum of Agreement sa pagitan ng PGH at Daniel Mercado Medical Center kaugnay sa FMAB.
Singilin ang gobyernong GMA sa responsibilidad nito sa Sambayanang Pilipino!
Ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mamamayan sa serbisyong pangkalusugan!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Pahayag ng Pagtutol sa Komersiyalisasyon sa PGH*
Sa pagpasok ng PGH sa leasing agreement sa Faculty Medical Arts Building (FMAB) (ang dating PGH Infirmary) sa Daniel Mercado Medical Center (DMMC) ay lumalabas na ang tunay na tunguhin sa modernization program ng kasalukuyang PGH Administration ay lantay na commercialization.
Ayon sa kasunduan, bukod sa pagpapa-upa sa mga PGH consultants para sa kanilang private clinics; papayagan din ang DMMC na mag-operate sa FMAB ng sariling ambulatory operating room, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, iba pang mga diagnostic facilities, at mga kaakibat na pasilidad.
Ang ibig sabihin, lantaran ng magkakaroon ng mga pribadong pasilidad sa loob mismo ng PGH na eksklusibong magbibigay serbisyo sa mga pribadong pasyente o yaong may kakayanang magbayad. Isang esensiyang karakter ng microprivatization/co-location, kung saan habang minamantini na publiko pa rin ang isang institusyon subalit ang mga serbisyong ipinagkakaloob nito ay nasa pribadong kompanya na, o may kaalinsabayang pribadong serbisyo sa loob mismo ng institusyon upang direktang kinukumpetensiya at unti-unting pinapatay ang pampublikong serbisyo.
Samakatuwid, kung ito ay lumawak pa, isang araw ay magising na lang tayong ang lahat na ng serbisyo ng PGH ay pribado na - may bayad na kasing taas o higit pa sa pribadong ospital.
Ang microprivatization/co-location ay mapanlinlang na tipo ng polisiyang pribatisasyon ng pambansang pamahalaan sa dikta ng International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB) para ibigay sa pribadong sektor at pagkakakitaan ang mga serbisyong bayan kasama na ang serbisyong pangkalusugan para masegurong makabayad sa mga kautangan nito. Ang mga serbisyong panlipunan tulad ng kalusugan ay pangunahing batayan ng pagkakaroon ng pamahalaan at sinisiguro ng ating Saligang Batas na dapat ipagkaloob ng estado. Subalit maging ito ay tinatalikuran na rin ng ating pamahalaan.
Ang All U.P. Workers Union ay naninindigan na ang PGH ay ospital ng bayan. Sa panahon ng pandaigdigang krisis pang-ekonomiya at pandaigdigang pananalanta ng Influenza A (H1N1), ngayon natin dapat pagyamanin pa ang mahusay na serbisyong pangkalusugan na de-kalidad, abot-kaya at laan sa mamamayan, at hindi ang kabaliktaran nito.
Hinahamon natin ang Administrasyong Alfiler, kung kayo ay totoo ayon sa inyong ibinabandila na magaling at talentado, paghusayin natin ang ating serbisyo sa bayan sa paraang hindi na pinapatindi ang panghuhuthot sa ating mga kababayan na hilahod na sa hirap. Huwag nating gawing dahilan na kesyo kulang ang pondo mula sa pambansang pamahalaan. Katunayan mahigit trilyong piso na ang pambansang budget at kung saan halos 90% nito ay napupunta lamang sa pambayad utang, pondong pandigma at terorismo ng estado at kurupsiyon. Huwag kayong tumulad sa inyong among nasa Malakanyang na sa harap ng malawakang akusasyon ng korupsiyon at paglabag sa karapatang pantao ay kapit-tuko sa pwesto at naglalatag pa ng mga mapanlinlang na mga pamamaraan tulad ng Senate-less Con-Ass upang manatili sa posisyon ng lagpas pa ng 2010.
Sa ating mga kapwa kawani, tayo ay pumasok sa PGH upang magsilbi sa sambayanan, huwag tayong pagagamit sa makasariling ambisyon ng mga namumuno sa atin. Tayo ay may sagradong papel upang labanan ang mga patakarang higit pang nagpapahirap sa Sambayanan. Ilantad at labanan ang komersiyalisasyon at pribatisasyon ng PGH. Ipaglaban ang karapatan ng Sambayanan sa batayang serbisyong pangkalusugan.
Mabuhay ang mga kawani ng PGH na taus puso at may pagmamalasakit na nagsisilbi sa ating mamamayan!
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* Pahayag ng All U.P. Workers Union Manila kaugnay sa Signing Ceremonies ng Memorandum of Agreement sa pagitan ng UP-PGH at Daniel Mercado Medical Center (DMMC) ngayong ika-18 ng Hunyo 2009. Ayon sa kasunduan ang planong Faculty and Medical Arts Building (ang dating PGH Infirmary) ay pangangasiwaan ng DMMC sa loob ng dalawamput-limang (25) taon kapalit ng renta sa PGH.
Ayon sa kasunduan, bukod sa pagpapa-upa sa mga PGH consultants para sa kanilang private clinics; papayagan din ang DMMC na mag-operate sa FMAB ng sariling ambulatory operating room, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, iba pang mga diagnostic facilities, at mga kaakibat na pasilidad.
Ang ibig sabihin, lantaran ng magkakaroon ng mga pribadong pasilidad sa loob mismo ng PGH na eksklusibong magbibigay serbisyo sa mga pribadong pasyente o yaong may kakayanang magbayad. Isang esensiyang karakter ng microprivatization/co-location, kung saan habang minamantini na publiko pa rin ang isang institusyon subalit ang mga serbisyong ipinagkakaloob nito ay nasa pribadong kompanya na, o may kaalinsabayang pribadong serbisyo sa loob mismo ng institusyon upang direktang kinukumpetensiya at unti-unting pinapatay ang pampublikong serbisyo.
Samakatuwid, kung ito ay lumawak pa, isang araw ay magising na lang tayong ang lahat na ng serbisyo ng PGH ay pribado na - may bayad na kasing taas o higit pa sa pribadong ospital.
Ang microprivatization/co-location ay mapanlinlang na tipo ng polisiyang pribatisasyon ng pambansang pamahalaan sa dikta ng International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB) para ibigay sa pribadong sektor at pagkakakitaan ang mga serbisyong bayan kasama na ang serbisyong pangkalusugan para masegurong makabayad sa mga kautangan nito. Ang mga serbisyong panlipunan tulad ng kalusugan ay pangunahing batayan ng pagkakaroon ng pamahalaan at sinisiguro ng ating Saligang Batas na dapat ipagkaloob ng estado. Subalit maging ito ay tinatalikuran na rin ng ating pamahalaan.
Ang All U.P. Workers Union ay naninindigan na ang PGH ay ospital ng bayan. Sa panahon ng pandaigdigang krisis pang-ekonomiya at pandaigdigang pananalanta ng Influenza A (H1N1), ngayon natin dapat pagyamanin pa ang mahusay na serbisyong pangkalusugan na de-kalidad, abot-kaya at laan sa mamamayan, at hindi ang kabaliktaran nito.
Hinahamon natin ang Administrasyong Alfiler, kung kayo ay totoo ayon sa inyong ibinabandila na magaling at talentado, paghusayin natin ang ating serbisyo sa bayan sa paraang hindi na pinapatindi ang panghuhuthot sa ating mga kababayan na hilahod na sa hirap. Huwag nating gawing dahilan na kesyo kulang ang pondo mula sa pambansang pamahalaan. Katunayan mahigit trilyong piso na ang pambansang budget at kung saan halos 90% nito ay napupunta lamang sa pambayad utang, pondong pandigma at terorismo ng estado at kurupsiyon. Huwag kayong tumulad sa inyong among nasa Malakanyang na sa harap ng malawakang akusasyon ng korupsiyon at paglabag sa karapatang pantao ay kapit-tuko sa pwesto at naglalatag pa ng mga mapanlinlang na mga pamamaraan tulad ng Senate-less Con-Ass upang manatili sa posisyon ng lagpas pa ng 2010.
Sa ating mga kapwa kawani, tayo ay pumasok sa PGH upang magsilbi sa sambayanan, huwag tayong pagagamit sa makasariling ambisyon ng mga namumuno sa atin. Tayo ay may sagradong papel upang labanan ang mga patakarang higit pang nagpapahirap sa Sambayanan. Ilantad at labanan ang komersiyalisasyon at pribatisasyon ng PGH. Ipaglaban ang karapatan ng Sambayanan sa batayang serbisyong pangkalusugan.
Mabuhay ang mga kawani ng PGH na taus puso at may pagmamalasakit na nagsisilbi sa ating mamamayan!
_______________
* Pahayag ng All U.P. Workers Union Manila kaugnay sa Signing Ceremonies ng Memorandum of Agreement sa pagitan ng UP-PGH at Daniel Mercado Medical Center (DMMC) ngayong ika-18 ng Hunyo 2009. Ayon sa kasunduan ang planong Faculty and Medical Arts Building (ang dating PGH Infirmary) ay pangangasiwaan ng DMMC sa loob ng dalawamput-limang (25) taon kapalit ng renta sa PGH.
Con-Ass” and the People’s Wrath
PUBLISHED ON June 16, 2009 AT 5:33 PM
By CAROL PAGADUAN-ARAULLO
Streetwise / Business World
Posted by Bulatlat
The anti-Charter change (Chacha) and anti-Arroyo forces had barely a week to mount the muscle-flexing protest action yesterday in Ayala Avenue, Makati City and in major urban centers nationwide. They achieved a big measure of success by gathering thousands in Makati and hundreds if not thousands more in various cities and big towns nationwide. They displayed broad participation by the organizations of the basic sectors among the working people, the civic, professional and artist groups, the Catholic religious congregations and some bishops, the protestant churches, the opposition leaders and parties, and government officials and military/police officers critical of the Arroyo regime.
Earlier mini-protests erupted in various parts of Metro Manila and “viral” protest spread as well in the virtual world of the internet giving a foretaste of what could lie ahead for the Arroyo clique as it schemes, manipulates and buys its ways to staying in power beyond 2010, the Constitutionally-mandated end of GMA’s term in office.
There is no denying that a vast majority of the people have had enough of Mrs.Arroyo and her ilk. The crimes of her regime just keep mounting despite the many times that she has been caught red-handed. She has willfully ignored calls for accountability by the people, by the political opposition, religious and business leaders and even by the international community appalled at rampant human rights violations.
Shamelessly, Mrs. Arroyo has clung to power; she has refused to resign. She has used emergency rule and various other draconian measures including extrajudicial killings, militarization of rural and urban poor communities, illegal arrest and detention and the filing of trumped-up criminal charges against her perceived enemies, to prevent her ouster through popular uprising.
Mrs. Arroyo and her clique have come up against Constitutional term limits that makes her stepping down from power a given. She could appoint a loyal and pliant presidential candidate for the national elections in 2010 and utilize all the dirty tricks in the books (and some she has invented) to make that candidate “win” in order to buy political insurance for herself and her cohorts. The same way she preempted every impeachment move by buying off the “honorable” members of the HOR; the way she squelched every investigation into anomalies of her administration by appointing a subservient Ombudsman; and the way she stopped every attempt to pry open inquiry into the most scandalous of corrupt government deals by her hold on the Supreme Court, majority of whom are her appointees.
But obviously that isn’t enough to ensure protection from being haled to court once she loses her presidential immunity. Similarly, she cannot predict where the political winds may blow once out of power; political debts can be easily forgotten or overtaken by the pressing concerns of the new administration whose own interests may no longer coincide with that of Mrs. Arroyo.
This is the real reason for the desperate, despicable and brazenly unconstitutional move called “Con-Ass”, recently railroaded by Mrs. Arroyo’s allies in the House of Representatives (HOR), by the mere expedient of a majority vote on House Resolution 1109 sponsored by no less than Speaker Prospero Nograles. H.R. 1109 empowers Congress to convene as a constituent assembly in order to revise the Philippine Constitution by two thirds of all congressmen and senators voting jointly. And since the more than 200 members of the Lower House vastly outnumber the 24 members of the Senate, this bogus Constituent Assembly can be convened and make revisions in the Charter even without a single senator participating.
The illegal and fake Constituent Assembly, packed by Arroyo allies whose compliance to her marching orders are ensured by millions-worth of incentives, will undertake the shift to a parliamentary system from the current presidential system. In this way, Mrs. Arroyo can run as a representative in her congressional district and manipulate her way into becoming prime minister later on by simply buying off the majority of members of parliament.
Time and so many legal impediments seem to make this scenario untenable. Still, all the moves of Mrs. Arroyo and her allies constitute an undeniable trail of deception, lies, maneuvers, buy-offs and quid-pro-quos that point the way to this as the major ploy of the Arroyo clique.
Despite Mrs. Arroyo’s posturing that the merger of the two political parties loyal to her, the Lakas-CMD and Kampi, is proof positive that the 2010 presidential elections are pushing through as scheduled, the truth is such a merger party is precisely what Mrs. Arroyo will use to bamboozle the opposition once she moves to get the prime minister position in a new Parliament.
For someone supposedly so focused on the business of running the country, Mrs. Arroyo has noticeably gone on frequent sorties into her hometown and adjoining towns, part of the Congressional district in Pampanga where she will likely run for congressperson. Now why should a former president of the country be interested in running for the lowly post of a congressperson if this isn’t the stepping stone to the most powerful post in a parliamentary form of government?
Will the fear of the people’s wrath give pause to Mrs. Arroyo and her evil cabal of plotters? At this point it is clear that this hardly is the case. The Arroyo clique has taken an important lesson from the Marcos Dictatorship on what are crucial to achieve their Machiavellian designs. First is to secure the backing of the United States government (it will give the “democratic” imprimatur to the recycled Arroyo regime via Con-Ass and shift to parliamentary system). Then ensure the loyalty of the military and police generals; the blessings of enough voices among the church hierarchy and big business community; and the chorus of servile “ayes” from so-called parliamentarians and local government officials fattened by pork barrel and other perks.
The Arroyo clique is betting that the elite classes who rule this country and the lone Super Power, the US of A, can be enticed to see things its way; that is, the Arroyo clique’s narrow interests as key to protecting and upholding their own immediate and strategic interests. For example, apart from changing the Charter in order to make possible Mrs. Arroyo’s continuing hold on the reigns of power in this country, Mrs. Arroyo uses as bait constitutional amendments that will allow foreign investors to acquire ownership and control over all natural resources and economic enterprises to the extent of 100 per cent and to sell out the economic sovereignty and national patrimony of the Filipino people.
US and other foreign military forces are to be allowed unrestricted stay and operations in the Philippines not just by means of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) but by Constitutional fiat. Many of the constitutional provisions against the basing of foreign military forces and nuclear, chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction on Philippine soil are under threat of being excised from the basic law of the land. The Arroyo regime also wants to remove the constitutional restraints on martial law, emergency rule and violations of human rights. It seeks to undermine formal guarantees of civil and political liberties in the bill of rights achieved in the wake of the people’s victory over the US- backed Marcos dictatorship.
One lesson that the Arroyo clique has obviously failed to learn is that the inevitable ending for dictators and would-be dictators in this country and elsewhere in the world is the dust-bin of history. The people’s wrath and courageous, persistent mass struggles will definitely see to that. (Bulatlat.com)
By CAROL PAGADUAN-ARAULLO
Streetwise / Business World
Posted by Bulatlat
The anti-Charter change (Chacha) and anti-Arroyo forces had barely a week to mount the muscle-flexing protest action yesterday in Ayala Avenue, Makati City and in major urban centers nationwide. They achieved a big measure of success by gathering thousands in Makati and hundreds if not thousands more in various cities and big towns nationwide. They displayed broad participation by the organizations of the basic sectors among the working people, the civic, professional and artist groups, the Catholic religious congregations and some bishops, the protestant churches, the opposition leaders and parties, and government officials and military/police officers critical of the Arroyo regime.
Earlier mini-protests erupted in various parts of Metro Manila and “viral” protest spread as well in the virtual world of the internet giving a foretaste of what could lie ahead for the Arroyo clique as it schemes, manipulates and buys its ways to staying in power beyond 2010, the Constitutionally-mandated end of GMA’s term in office.
There is no denying that a vast majority of the people have had enough of Mrs.Arroyo and her ilk. The crimes of her regime just keep mounting despite the many times that she has been caught red-handed. She has willfully ignored calls for accountability by the people, by the political opposition, religious and business leaders and even by the international community appalled at rampant human rights violations.
Shamelessly, Mrs. Arroyo has clung to power; she has refused to resign. She has used emergency rule and various other draconian measures including extrajudicial killings, militarization of rural and urban poor communities, illegal arrest and detention and the filing of trumped-up criminal charges against her perceived enemies, to prevent her ouster through popular uprising.
Mrs. Arroyo and her clique have come up against Constitutional term limits that makes her stepping down from power a given. She could appoint a loyal and pliant presidential candidate for the national elections in 2010 and utilize all the dirty tricks in the books (and some she has invented) to make that candidate “win” in order to buy political insurance for herself and her cohorts. The same way she preempted every impeachment move by buying off the “honorable” members of the HOR; the way she squelched every investigation into anomalies of her administration by appointing a subservient Ombudsman; and the way she stopped every attempt to pry open inquiry into the most scandalous of corrupt government deals by her hold on the Supreme Court, majority of whom are her appointees.
But obviously that isn’t enough to ensure protection from being haled to court once she loses her presidential immunity. Similarly, she cannot predict where the political winds may blow once out of power; political debts can be easily forgotten or overtaken by the pressing concerns of the new administration whose own interests may no longer coincide with that of Mrs. Arroyo.
This is the real reason for the desperate, despicable and brazenly unconstitutional move called “Con-Ass”, recently railroaded by Mrs. Arroyo’s allies in the House of Representatives (HOR), by the mere expedient of a majority vote on House Resolution 1109 sponsored by no less than Speaker Prospero Nograles. H.R. 1109 empowers Congress to convene as a constituent assembly in order to revise the Philippine Constitution by two thirds of all congressmen and senators voting jointly. And since the more than 200 members of the Lower House vastly outnumber the 24 members of the Senate, this bogus Constituent Assembly can be convened and make revisions in the Charter even without a single senator participating.
The illegal and fake Constituent Assembly, packed by Arroyo allies whose compliance to her marching orders are ensured by millions-worth of incentives, will undertake the shift to a parliamentary system from the current presidential system. In this way, Mrs. Arroyo can run as a representative in her congressional district and manipulate her way into becoming prime minister later on by simply buying off the majority of members of parliament.
Time and so many legal impediments seem to make this scenario untenable. Still, all the moves of Mrs. Arroyo and her allies constitute an undeniable trail of deception, lies, maneuvers, buy-offs and quid-pro-quos that point the way to this as the major ploy of the Arroyo clique.
Despite Mrs. Arroyo’s posturing that the merger of the two political parties loyal to her, the Lakas-CMD and Kampi, is proof positive that the 2010 presidential elections are pushing through as scheduled, the truth is such a merger party is precisely what Mrs. Arroyo will use to bamboozle the opposition once she moves to get the prime minister position in a new Parliament.
For someone supposedly so focused on the business of running the country, Mrs. Arroyo has noticeably gone on frequent sorties into her hometown and adjoining towns, part of the Congressional district in Pampanga where she will likely run for congressperson. Now why should a former president of the country be interested in running for the lowly post of a congressperson if this isn’t the stepping stone to the most powerful post in a parliamentary form of government?
Will the fear of the people’s wrath give pause to Mrs. Arroyo and her evil cabal of plotters? At this point it is clear that this hardly is the case. The Arroyo clique has taken an important lesson from the Marcos Dictatorship on what are crucial to achieve their Machiavellian designs. First is to secure the backing of the United States government (it will give the “democratic” imprimatur to the recycled Arroyo regime via Con-Ass and shift to parliamentary system). Then ensure the loyalty of the military and police generals; the blessings of enough voices among the church hierarchy and big business community; and the chorus of servile “ayes” from so-called parliamentarians and local government officials fattened by pork barrel and other perks.
The Arroyo clique is betting that the elite classes who rule this country and the lone Super Power, the US of A, can be enticed to see things its way; that is, the Arroyo clique’s narrow interests as key to protecting and upholding their own immediate and strategic interests. For example, apart from changing the Charter in order to make possible Mrs. Arroyo’s continuing hold on the reigns of power in this country, Mrs. Arroyo uses as bait constitutional amendments that will allow foreign investors to acquire ownership and control over all natural resources and economic enterprises to the extent of 100 per cent and to sell out the economic sovereignty and national patrimony of the Filipino people.
US and other foreign military forces are to be allowed unrestricted stay and operations in the Philippines not just by means of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) but by Constitutional fiat. Many of the constitutional provisions against the basing of foreign military forces and nuclear, chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction on Philippine soil are under threat of being excised from the basic law of the land. The Arroyo regime also wants to remove the constitutional restraints on martial law, emergency rule and violations of human rights. It seeks to undermine formal guarantees of civil and political liberties in the bill of rights achieved in the wake of the people’s victory over the US- backed Marcos dictatorship.
One lesson that the Arroyo clique has obviously failed to learn is that the inevitable ending for dictators and would-be dictators in this country and elsewhere in the world is the dust-bin of history. The people’s wrath and courageous, persistent mass struggles will definitely see to that. (Bulatlat.com)
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Nurses Decry Lower Salaries in New Law
Health workers say DoH 'insensitive' to salary law
By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net
Posted date: June 03, 2009
MANILA, Philippines— Public health workers on Wednesday staged a rally outside the office of the health secretary slamming the Department of Health’s silence on the approval of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) in Congress earlier this week.
Emma Manuel, national president of the Alliance of Health Workers Inc., said members of her organization are disappointed with the passage of the salary standardization scheme which disregards the Nursing Act of 2002 and threatens their benefits under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers.
The new law is “worse than the A/H1N1 virus, instantly killing the Nursing Act provision on Salary Grade 15 for nurses and putting the benefits of public health workers in jeopardy,” Manuel said.
Under the new law, new nurses are at Salary Grade 11 getting a monthly salary of P12,000. The law provides for P6,000 worth of increases spread over four years.
But under another law, the Nursing Act or Republic Act 9173, which was enacted seven years ago but still not implemented until now, new nurses should be at Salary Grade 15, getting a monthly salary of P25,000.
“In the last seven years, the government deprived the Filipino nurses of their right to Salary Grade 15,” said Manuel.
Teresita Barcelo, national president of the Philippine Nurses Association Inc., said the signing of SSL into law killed the Nursing Law and “denied Filipino nurses of their right to humane salaries.”
“We help take care of life but we are deprived of our rights. We are fighting for our legitimate right—the implementation of RA 9173,” she said in Filipino.
Barcelo said nurses in the Philippines are overworked, with a nurse to patient ratio of one is to 50. She said this situation makes it hard for nurses here to perform their health duties and to sustain their families’ financial needs.
Manuel also lamented the silence of the Department of Health in the issue. She said it smacks of “utmost insensitivity to the plight of nurses and health workers. While health workers tirelessly lobbied in the House and Senate, the DoH washed its hands, literally and figuratively.”
Ernie Espinosa, president of National Center for Mental Health Workers Association, agreed. “Neither the DoH secretary nor any director from the department joined us in our fight for our salaries and rights. We are health workers who serve the people and the government,” he said.
Health Assistant Secretary Luna Fernandez told the group that the DoH will be open for dialog with the health workers.
By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net
Posted date: June 03, 2009
MANILA, Philippines— Public health workers on Wednesday staged a rally outside the office of the health secretary slamming the Department of Health’s silence on the approval of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) in Congress earlier this week.
Emma Manuel, national president of the Alliance of Health Workers Inc., said members of her organization are disappointed with the passage of the salary standardization scheme which disregards the Nursing Act of 2002 and threatens their benefits under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers.
The new law is “worse than the A/H1N1 virus, instantly killing the Nursing Act provision on Salary Grade 15 for nurses and putting the benefits of public health workers in jeopardy,” Manuel said.
Under the new law, new nurses are at Salary Grade 11 getting a monthly salary of P12,000. The law provides for P6,000 worth of increases spread over four years.
But under another law, the Nursing Act or Republic Act 9173, which was enacted seven years ago but still not implemented until now, new nurses should be at Salary Grade 15, getting a monthly salary of P25,000.
“In the last seven years, the government deprived the Filipino nurses of their right to Salary Grade 15,” said Manuel.
Teresita Barcelo, national president of the Philippine Nurses Association Inc., said the signing of SSL into law killed the Nursing Law and “denied Filipino nurses of their right to humane salaries.”
“We help take care of life but we are deprived of our rights. We are fighting for our legitimate right—the implementation of RA 9173,” she said in Filipino.
Barcelo said nurses in the Philippines are overworked, with a nurse to patient ratio of one is to 50. She said this situation makes it hard for nurses here to perform their health duties and to sustain their families’ financial needs.
Manuel also lamented the silence of the Department of Health in the issue. She said it smacks of “utmost insensitivity to the plight of nurses and health workers. While health workers tirelessly lobbied in the House and Senate, the DoH washed its hands, literally and figuratively.”
Ernie Espinosa, president of National Center for Mental Health Workers Association, agreed. “Neither the DoH secretary nor any director from the department joined us in our fight for our salaries and rights. We are health workers who serve the people and the government,” he said.
Health Assistant Secretary Luna Fernandez told the group that the DoH will be open for dialog with the health workers.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Health Workers Brave Storm to Mark National Health Workers’ Day with Protest
By CHARMAINE P. LIRIO AND GLAIZA MAY G. MUZONES
Bulatlat - http://www.bulatlat.com
MANILA — Heavy rains on Thursday May 7 did not stop health workers from celebrating the National Day for Health Workers with a protest on the wet and almost flooded streets of Morayta.
With their umbrellas and white coats, public health workers protested for salary and benefits increase in their sector. They also condemned the privatization of public hospitals and the dire state of health services in the country.
“We nurses, doctors, and other health workers who have chosen to stay in the country amidst crisis, poverty, sickness and corruption decry the willful neglect and disregard of the Arroyo government of the health workers and Filipino peoples’ plight,” the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) said in a statement.
Led by AHW, the alliance of public health workers’ organizations, the protesters held a motorcade from the Lung Center of the Philippines and intended to have their program in Mendiola when they were blocked by the police.
Against privatization, corporatization
The health workers also expressed opposition to the government’s plan to privatize health services through House Bill (HB) 3287.
“Instead of ensuring the right to people’s health, the Department of Health revenue enhancement programs are giving heyday to private entities while making poor patients pay for every piece of cotton used,” AHW said.
HB 3287 was filed by by Rep. Roque Ablan, Jr. as part of Arroyo’s emergency resiliency package early this year. The bill seeks to corporatize public hospitals in the country.
Aside from this, some public hospitals now have Revenue Enhancement Programs (REP).
According to Remi Ysmael, President of Tondo Medical Center Employees Association, their hospital implements REP by requiring patients to pay for services that were previously offered for free.
Salary increase?
Dr. Geneve Rivera, Secretary General of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), said the government is deceiving public health workers through Joint Resolution 24.
”Tumaas ang ating sahod, binawasan naman ang ating benepisyo at papalittin pa nito ang mga matatanggap na kakarampot ng ating mga manggagawang pangkalusugan sa mga pribado at pampublikong ospital,” she said. (”Our salaries increased but our benefits were reduced, this will further lessen the already meager income of our health workers in public and private hospitals.”)
Joint Resolution No. 24 legalizes the abolition of economic and non-economic benefits gained through the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers or Republic Act 7305 of 1999.
RA 7305 includes in its provision the benefits and incentives of health workers such as subsistence allowance, hazard pay, and one-grade increase for compulsory retirees.
Under the HJR 24, Salary Grades 1 to 9 employees will receive a 30.1 percent increase in wage, which will be divided in four years as compared with the 100-142 percent increase of those in higher positions.
According to the health groups, even if this increase in wage would be implemented now, they will remain below the poverty line because of the reduction in their benefits and the inadequate raise. Also, with the current global economic crisis, the increase is negligible.
Leni Nolasco of the Philippine Nurses Association, meanwhile, said the provisions under the Nursing Act of 2002 are not recognized by hospitals until now.
Nursing Act of 2002 emphasizes the expansion of the nurses’ role to include comprehensive specialty programs, establishes a minimum pay for nurses working in the government and abroad, and expands the Board of Nursing membership.
“Hindi naman nila talaga tinutugunan yung mga pangangailangan ng mga nurses. Karamihan sa mga nurses, naghahanap na lang sila ng trabaho sa labas ng bansa, imbis na nagsisilbi sila sa ating kapwa mamamayan, sila ay natutulak upang pumunta sa ibang bansa”, she said. (The government does not really address the needs of our nurses. Most of our nurses look for jobs outside the country instead of serving their own countrymen; they are forced to go out of the country.)
Celebration
Alongside the celebration of the National Health Workers’ Day, AHW celebrated its 25th year anniversary.
A program was held at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) where Senator Loren Legarda, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, said the country invests less than one percent of its GDP on health while the United Nations investment benchmark should be five percent.
“There is hardly money for basic health care, for the maintenance and operations of public health centers and hospitals,” Legarda said.
Also present in the event were members of the All UP Workers Union, Council for Health and Development, Health Students’ Action, and unions and employees association from the Lung Center of the Philippines, Center for Mental Health, Heart Center, San Lazaro Hospital, and other city and provincial hospitals.
Former President Corazon Aquino proclaimed May 7 as National Health Workers’ Day in 1987 as recognition for the contribution of health workers in the country. (Bulatlat.com)
Bulatlat - http://www.bulatlat.com
MANILA — Heavy rains on Thursday May 7 did not stop health workers from celebrating the National Day for Health Workers with a protest on the wet and almost flooded streets of Morayta.
With their umbrellas and white coats, public health workers protested for salary and benefits increase in their sector. They also condemned the privatization of public hospitals and the dire state of health services in the country.
“We nurses, doctors, and other health workers who have chosen to stay in the country amidst crisis, poverty, sickness and corruption decry the willful neglect and disregard of the Arroyo government of the health workers and Filipino peoples’ plight,” the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) said in a statement.
Led by AHW, the alliance of public health workers’ organizations, the protesters held a motorcade from the Lung Center of the Philippines and intended to have their program in Mendiola when they were blocked by the police.
Against privatization, corporatization
The health workers also expressed opposition to the government’s plan to privatize health services through House Bill (HB) 3287.
“Instead of ensuring the right to people’s health, the Department of Health revenue enhancement programs are giving heyday to private entities while making poor patients pay for every piece of cotton used,” AHW said.
HB 3287 was filed by by Rep. Roque Ablan, Jr. as part of Arroyo’s emergency resiliency package early this year. The bill seeks to corporatize public hospitals in the country.
Aside from this, some public hospitals now have Revenue Enhancement Programs (REP).
According to Remi Ysmael, President of Tondo Medical Center Employees Association, their hospital implements REP by requiring patients to pay for services that were previously offered for free.
Salary increase?
Dr. Geneve Rivera, Secretary General of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), said the government is deceiving public health workers through Joint Resolution 24.
”Tumaas ang ating sahod, binawasan naman ang ating benepisyo at papalittin pa nito ang mga matatanggap na kakarampot ng ating mga manggagawang pangkalusugan sa mga pribado at pampublikong ospital,” she said. (”Our salaries increased but our benefits were reduced, this will further lessen the already meager income of our health workers in public and private hospitals.”)
Joint Resolution No. 24 legalizes the abolition of economic and non-economic benefits gained through the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers or Republic Act 7305 of 1999.
RA 7305 includes in its provision the benefits and incentives of health workers such as subsistence allowance, hazard pay, and one-grade increase for compulsory retirees.
Under the HJR 24, Salary Grades 1 to 9 employees will receive a 30.1 percent increase in wage, which will be divided in four years as compared with the 100-142 percent increase of those in higher positions.
According to the health groups, even if this increase in wage would be implemented now, they will remain below the poverty line because of the reduction in their benefits and the inadequate raise. Also, with the current global economic crisis, the increase is negligible.
Leni Nolasco of the Philippine Nurses Association, meanwhile, said the provisions under the Nursing Act of 2002 are not recognized by hospitals until now.
Nursing Act of 2002 emphasizes the expansion of the nurses’ role to include comprehensive specialty programs, establishes a minimum pay for nurses working in the government and abroad, and expands the Board of Nursing membership.
“Hindi naman nila talaga tinutugunan yung mga pangangailangan ng mga nurses. Karamihan sa mga nurses, naghahanap na lang sila ng trabaho sa labas ng bansa, imbis na nagsisilbi sila sa ating kapwa mamamayan, sila ay natutulak upang pumunta sa ibang bansa”, she said. (The government does not really address the needs of our nurses. Most of our nurses look for jobs outside the country instead of serving their own countrymen; they are forced to go out of the country.)
Celebration
Alongside the celebration of the National Health Workers’ Day, AHW celebrated its 25th year anniversary.
A program was held at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) where Senator Loren Legarda, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, said the country invests less than one percent of its GDP on health while the United Nations investment benchmark should be five percent.
“There is hardly money for basic health care, for the maintenance and operations of public health centers and hospitals,” Legarda said.
Also present in the event were members of the All UP Workers Union, Council for Health and Development, Health Students’ Action, and unions and employees association from the Lung Center of the Philippines, Center for Mental Health, Heart Center, San Lazaro Hospital, and other city and provincial hospitals.
Former President Corazon Aquino proclaimed May 7 as National Health Workers’ Day in 1987 as recognition for the contribution of health workers in the country. (Bulatlat.com)
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