The proposal was approved but only after provincial board members called in the governor's economic team to shed light on at least P125 million that has to be taken from the Capitol's general fund to subsidize the "economic enterprises.”

About 68 percent or P273.5 million of the proposed budget goes to provincial hospitals in Malaybalay City and the towns of Kalilangan, Kibawe, Malitbog, Maramag, Manolo Fortich, San Fernando, and Talakag.

Zubiri endorsed the proposed budget in a letter to the board on November 13.

Board member Rogelio Lago asked for more discussions on the budget, prompting temporary presiding officer Roland Deticio to call in Zubiri's deputies at the economic enterprise unit.  

Lago questioned the idea of an economic enterprise that is being subsidized and called it a "losing enterprise.” He asked why the provincial government is subsidizing the operations of provincial hospitals when towns and cities ought to give their share considering that the hospitals benefit their constituents as well.

Funding for the proposed P404.9 million budget for economic enterprise will be taken from hospital fees at P252.8 million;  proceeds from housing and resettlement project at P24 million;, interests at P600,000; subsidy from general fund at P125 million, and P2.5 million subsidy from; the local government of Malitbog.  

The Provincial Economic Enterprise Development and Management Office (PEEDMO) is expected to get P5.99 million; Provincial Livelihood Project and Support Services, P6.34 million and Provincial Housing and Resettlement Office,  P24 million.

Among the 13 items in the "non office" expense account, the highest appropriation is for medical, dental, and laboratory at P62 million out of the P81.2 million.

A board member clarified to this reporter that the governor has included Bukidnon's eight provincial hospitals, a social service, in the economic enterprises of the province. He also clarified that Malitbog mayor Osmundo dela Rosa was prompted to offer subsidy since the hospital in Malitbog was allegedly eyed for closure.

Majority Floor Leader Camilo Pepito noted that the economic enterprise of the province has just started to organize.

Another board member said nobody could really expect a hospital to perform well economically since it caters mostly to indigents. 

Pepito cited the initiative of the economic enterprise and hospital in Agoo, La Union which the board visited earlier. He said their model was worth emulating since the hospital requires equity from indigent patients on a "socialized" scheme.

Ex-officio board member Oliver Owen Garcia told the floor and later this reporter that there must be a way to pressure the other local governments in the province to take a portion of the subsidy “so that there will be lesser subsidy from the province since the hospitals are right at their doorstep," he said.   (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

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