Capitol has unpaid bills with VSMMC

THE Cebu Provincial Government, which regularly allocates millions in financial assistance to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), still has an unsettled account with the hospital.

This was what Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale learned yesterday. Magpale assured that her office is settling the issue.

In her recent meeting with VSMMC Chief Gerardo Aquino, the latter agreed to increase Capitol’s credit line to P1 million.

In its 2013 annual budget, the Province allocated P2 million assistance to VSMMH. Magpale said they have yet to release the amount.

Cebu representatives have put up a significant portion of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (Pdaf) for Cebu Province’s trust funds.

This prompted Magpale to send a formal query to the Department of Budget Management (DBM) on how to utilize these funds.

DBM records showed that all of Cebu Province’s congressmen poured a total of P37,550,000 to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Rep. Luigi Quisumbing (Cebu, sixth district) allotted P5 million of his Pdaf to VSMMC. Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, third district) gave P6 million; Rep. Ramon Durano VI (Cebu, fifth) gave P7 million; Rep. Pablo Garcia (Cebu, second district) gave P2 million; Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, fourth district) gave P10 million; and Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, first district) gave P7.550 million.

Unsettled

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (PSWDO) Evelyn Senajon said that since September to December 2012, Capitol had P1.5 million unsettled accounts with the hospital.

On top of that, the hospital also billed Capitol last month for P240,048, said Senajon.

Magpale met Dr. Aquino last Thursday and learned that for weeks the hospital turned down Capitol-sponsored patients because of Capitol’s unsettled accounts.

Senajon said that when Magpale assumed office as acting governor, she made a total of P816,315 payments, plus a P450,000 check now waiting for her signature.

Once payment is made, Capitol will only have P473,733 remaining unsettled account.

Aquino agreed to increase their credit line from P500,000 to a million.

Senajon said her office makes a daily average of 30 to 40 client referrals from Cebu towns and cities to Sotto.

Magpale and Aquino also agreed to start processing client referrals on the 15th and end of every month.

Senajon said they have assigned coordinators in VSMMC to guide, screen and assess patients.

“Paadtoon usa namo sa district una namo i-refer dinhi sa Kapitolyo (We’ll refer them to the district before we refer them to

Capitol),” said Senajon.