CEBU Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has launched a massive hiring initiative to fill 1,667 vacant positions across 16 Capitol-run hospitals, aiming to significantly improve the province’s healthcare services. The governor is specifically seeking passionate and dedicated Cebuanos to join the medical workforce.
Of the total vacancies, 1,513 positions are already funded, with an additional 154 slots awaiting budget allocation.
“The governor’s marching order is, ‘Get it done,’” said Aldwin Empaces, the Capitol’s assistant provincial administrator, in a Facebook post on the official Cebu Province page.
Empaces explained that the precise number of hires for each of the four provincial and 12 district hospitals will be determined by comprehensive staffing assessments conducted by the Department of Health 7 and the Cebu Provincial Health Office (CPHO). Their recommendations will then be submitted to the governor’s office for final approval. Baricuatro aims to complete this ambitious hiring drive within her first 100 days in office.
The extensive list of positions to be filled includes a wide range of healthcare and support roles such as nurses, midwives, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, radiologists, administrative aides, engineers, laboratory technicians, sanitation inspectors, medical specialists, laundry workers, drivers and cooks. These roles span various salary grades (SG), from SG 1 (P13,807) to SG 26 (P116,040 to P127,876), indicating a comprehensive effort to staff all levels of hospital operations.
Strengthening the provincial healthcare system was a core promise of Governor Baricuatro’s landslide victory in the May elections.
Dr. Mary Ann Josephine Arsenal, officer in charge of the CPHO, underscored the urgency of addressing the staffing shortage.
“The lack of personnel really reflects on our output,” Arsenal noted, acknowledging that understaffing is a primary reason for public dissatisfaction with medical services in Capitol-run hospitals.
Arsenal expressed profound gratitude for the new governor’s commitment to healthcare. “We really feel that health is now a priority, and governor is truly open for improvement. We are overwhelmed because Governor Pam provides full support,” she added.
Healthcare services have consistently been a top priority for Baricuatro since her campaign.
On her first full day in office on Tuesday, July 1, she signed 12 executive orders, including the immediate release of a P5 million budget for emergency procurement for each of the 16 provincial hospitals. This totals P80 million, to be distributed to the 12 district hospitals and four provincial hospitals located in Balamban and the cities of Carcar, Bogo and Danao. / JPS