THE association of midwives in Baguio and Benguet wants the local governments to allow them to practice their professions outside their government service.

The Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives Association Inc. (PLGPMI)-Baguio-Benguet Chapter asked the La Trinidad Municipal Government to pass an ordinance allowing them to practice their profession during the days they are not working for government.

Specifically, the group wants to privately practice their craft after office hours and during Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

The move, the group said, would allow them some added income. These health workers devote much of their time to public service, with salaries not enough to compensate their workload.

“Midwives serve from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and most of the time on-call after office hours. Despite this workload however, midwives are receiving a salary of P9,000 which at present is not enough to support a family of four to five children,” PLGPMI president Brenda Satur said in her letter to La Trinidad Mayor Artemio Galwan.

“Much as the local government units (LGU) want to increase the midwives’ salaries as mandated by the Magna Carta for Health Workers, they could not because of the salary cap of the LGU fund is not enough to support this move. This drives other midwives to seek greener pastures abroad, just like doctors and nurses,” Satur’s letter stated.

Satur said allowing midwives to do private practice would give them extra income to support their families and keep them and their skill in Philippine soil.