City Council grills JVR’s medical coupon project

CEBU, Philippines – The coupons given by Mayor Johnny V. De los Reyes to indigent constituents who need medical care took the limelight during yesterday’s deliberation on the proposed annual budget for 2015 at the Talisay City Council.

City social welfare and development officer Felipa Solana defended the P47.6 million proposed budget for the program in 2014, from P35.9 million budget last year.

Former mayor and now City Councilor Socrates Fernandez questioned as to why De los Reyes issues coupons to patients who come to his office to ask for medical assistance and gives them the “coupons” which allow them to avail of certain medical services and medicines for free.

“Is there propriety in a coupon that bears his signature? It seems indebtedness on the part of the person asking for the coupon when in fact, the money does not come from him (mayor) but by the city,” said Fernandez, who was the city’s mayor for nine years.

Fernandez pointed out that during his time, he only issued a health card that can be used for medical assistance.

Majority floor leader Richard Francis Aznar asked Solana a summary of the coupons being issued by the mayor to the patients or  individuals who have sought for his assistance.

Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, the council presiding officer, asked Solana as to where the mayor charges the amount for the coupons distributed for his medical care.

In response, Solana explained that her office gives out medical form through referral to the patients who need assistance. She said the mayor’s giving of coupon to those who come to him is already his prerogative as it is already on the mayor’s line of medical assistance program.

The coupons are worth P2,000 or more,  depending on the needs of the patient, who seeks additional assistance from his hospital bills from the mayor.

“It’s all the prerogative of the mayor on the control of the coupon. The issuance of the coupon is signed by the mayor and in his absence, there is somebody from his office who will release,” Solana said.

But Solana clarified that even if the mayor issues coupons, the same still have to undergo processing as their office gives out another form of medical assistance through referral.

To the rescue

The allies of De los Reyes in the council were quick to defend the mayor’s coupons.

City councilors Valeriano Ylanan and Dennis Basillote said the coupons of the mayor are more transparent than the health card issued by the former mayor.

Basillote pointed out that the previous administration inherited P7 million unpaid dues that were accumulated because of the city’s health card program, which provides P1,500 financial aid to indigent constituents who want to avail themselves of the free medical services and free medicines.

Basillote claimed there were reports of health cards even distributed to non-Talisaynons.

Basillote wondered as to why the present council questioned the program when De los Reyes only emulated the health program by distributing coupons to indigents instead of health cards.

‘Could we do it, too?’

Villarante, for his part, inquired from Solana if the council could also issue a coupon or make some referrals if there are patients who seek help from them, to which the latter replied, “Yes, you could make referrals.”

The City Council is not yet done in scrutinizing the proposed P731.6 million annual budget for 2015 and has decided to continue the deliberation in the council next week session where various department heads have been summoned to defend their respective budgets.

Councilor Doroteo Emit said the members of the city council will scrutinize “practically every page of the budget” for transparency.