SO THE issues in Manokan Country is now reduced to sell or not to sell -- not to collect? I thought the City was just trying to collect back rentals from the tenants. Earlier, Mayor Monico Puentevella argued that majority of the 23 Manokan tenants failed to pay their rentals amounting to P6.5 million.
But in the recent dialog, this suddenly became a non-issue. Mayor Puentevella presented several projects that most likely will be funded by the proceeds of the sale of the Manokan Country property, including plans to purchase new dialysis machines. I find this focus on city projects and purchase of dialysis very confusing. Why is the Mayor Puentevella exploring the sale of the Manokan as the ONLY option? After all, Bacolod Councilor El Cid Familiaran expressed the same concern in a resolution he penned. The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved his measure, concurring with gravity of the plight of the hemodialysis patients in the province and Bacolod. Councilor Familiaran appealed to State agents, requesting assistance from Evelio R. Leonardia of Bacolod City, Julio A. Ledesma of 1st District, Leo Rafael M. Cuevas of 2nd District, Alfredo Benitez of 3rd District, Jeffrey M. Ferrer of 4th District, Alejandro Y. Mirasol of 5th District, Mercedes K. Álvarez of 6th District, Neri J. Colmenares of Bayan Muna Party List, Joseph Stephen Paduano of Abang Lingkod Party List, Gary C. Alejano of Magdalo Party List, and Roland de la Cruz of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines. Familiaran mentioned that 99 hemodialysis patients have petitioned President Benigno Aquino through PhilHealth President Alexander Padilla to increase the hemodialysis coverage from 45 to 90 sessions. Why don't our local legislative and the local chief join hands to look for other State institutions for assistance? Section 11 of the 1987 Constitutions guarantees Filipino citizens that "The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health, and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers." State sources of revenues for health projects come from taxes and non-tax revenues such as fees, fines, and penalties, borrowings as proposed by Puentevella's arch enemy, Cong. Evelio Leonardia. Then, of course, as Ms Tutor pointed out, the Department of Health, City Health Office, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., and other foundations take care of the needs of those patients who undergo dialysis. I know of pauper patients who have accessed Pagcor funds for their hospitalization and medical bills. I would have too in 2009 if my health benefits and voluntary contributions for my recovery proved inadequate. This time, I have to agree with Manokan Country Vendors Association Treasurer Rosario Tutor who questioned why they should be the sacrificial lambs to finance the health care program for those with kidney problems. But perhaps, this could partially answer Ms Tutor's question. The City Government's debt with the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital has ballooned to P15 million. The P15-million debt covered unpaid bills from January 2015 to this month, and part of bills unpaid in 2014 that the Bacolod local government promised to shoulder. So if the tenants settle their arrears of P6.5 million, their payment could lead to the diminution of Bacolod's outstanding account payable to the regional hospital. That could lead to a win-win situation for the tenants, the customers, and the city government. I'm beginning to suspect that this is not even about dialysis machines and health projects. The national and local elections are just a heartbeat away. By BENEDICTO Q SANCHEZ Sun.Star Bacolod
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