Considering the current economic demands to ensure the continued viable operation of the Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH), and on the hand making sure that the city’s health services remain accessibly to majority of Laoag residents, Dr. Elizer Asuncion, hospital chief, has proposed a minimal increase of hospital fees and charges. According to Asuncion, now is the time for the LCGH to ask for an increase in fees and charges following the improvements in the hospital’s laboratory equipments and other facilities. The proposal, Asuncion said, is based on the Local Government Code of 1991 which allows an increase of tax rates “not oftener than once every five years.” The city hospital has not applied for any increase for quite some time now. In view of this, Asuncion has asked the approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod by passing an amending Ordinance No. 2001-016, specifically in Chapter 5, which is on city charges-city hospital/health fees and charges. The increase, Asuncion reasoned, would pave the way to further improve the quality of service of the LCGH. Included in the proposed increase are hospital ward rates and laboratory examination fees. The LCGH chief however stressed that whatever increase there would be, it would be minimal and the rates would still be affordable to majority of the people. Aside from the rate increase, Asuncion also requested the council’s approval of the needed additional personnel in the LCGH. The said request had been pending since the time of former Laoag Mayor Roger C. Fariñas but has not been granted because the personnel services cap had already been maximized. Reacting to this, Laoag Councilor Primo Jay S. Ramos, health committee chair, said he is in favor of Asuncion’s proposal but stressed that increases should only be minimal. Ramos also stressed that a public hearing must first be conducted about the issue to find out whether the people would agree with the proposed increase. He added that the result of the public hearing would serve as the basis of the health committee for their committee report to be presented during a session. Meanwhile, Dr. Renato Mateo, city health officer, is also in favor of Asuncion’s proposal as he explained that if the measure is approved, LCGH fees and charges would still be lower than other government hospitals. He added that the increase is not about shoring up the hospital’s collections but to improve its services. Dominic B. dela Cruz
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