“Think twice before you speak, because your words and
influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of
another.” Napoleon Hill
By Alex P. Vidal
As acting secretary of the Department of Health (DOH),
we believe that Undersecretary Janette Loreto-Garin can save the Western
Visayas Sanitarium (WVS) in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo from being bamboozled by
abusive politicians like Iloilo second district Rep. Arcadio “Cadio” Gorriceta.
Technically, Gorriceta, a sycophant of Senate President
Franklin Drilon, has no business dipping his fingers into the affairs of
Sanitarium.
Weeks after he threatened to yank out Dr. Annabelle De
Guzman as WVS chief, Gorriceta got his wishes: De Guzman has been relieved of
her position and now reports in the DOH regional office headed by Director
Marlyn Convocar.
De Guzman’s fault was she crossed the path of the
influential Gorriceta when she and her fellow Sanitarium officials did not
agree with the congressman’s recommendation to change the orientation of the
WVS’ P25-million hospital ward extension project.
The neophyte solon was insisting that the extension
project must take into consideration the P137-million Sta. Barbara-San Miguel
access road project and the presence of an ongoing residential project.
GROUND
De Guzman stood her ground and argued that the ward
extension has been approved by the DOH central office and that WVS is just the
implementer.
De Guzman’s recalcitrance did not sit well with the
powerful congressman from Pavia, Iloilo who reportedly blew his top and vowed
to show the Sanitarium chief who’s the boss.
De Guzman’s “ouster” from Sanitarium was followed suit
by a series of controversial revamps.
The first to be axed was Elmer Herrera Jr., WVS administrative
officer, who was reassigned to the Supply Section.
Herrera was replaced by Diomedes Punsalan of the DOH-6
regional office.
Part of Herrera’s task is now to make an inventory of
all the WVS supplies and equipment.
Herrera’s transfer is effective on October 24, 2014
until November 24, 2014.
The Daily Guardian reported November 3 that in a letter
to Convocar dated October 27, 2014, Herrera likened his transfer to
constructive dismissal as his new assignment is actually under his supervision.
“Citing the revised organization structure and staffing
standards for government hospitals, Herrera pointed out that he is the highest
ranking official in the hospital operations and patient support service with an
equivalent rank of division head,” the Daily Guardian reported.
INVISIBLE
Although his hands are invisible in the ongoing
Sanitarium revamp, observers believe Gorriceta may have something to do with
what is going on in the reassignment of WVS officials.
Loreto-Garin can actually revert back the assignments of
concerned officials to a status quo.
Reassignments are normal both in private and government
offices.
But they should not be tainted with suspicions of
political arm-twisting tactics employed by abusive politicians who want to force
something to the throats of lowly regional-level officials.
In the first place, Gorriceta is supposed to enact laws
in the legislative branch.
He is not supposed to interfere with the projects
implemented by the executive branch; unless Gorriceta wants to favor certain
contractors who are willing to share a big chunk of the project pie.
At this point, only acting DOH Secretary Loreto-Garin
can clip the wings of Gorriceta and save the Sanitarium from the ruins of dirty
politicians.
Loreto-Garin has the power to institute whatever reforms
in the DOH, not a politician like Gorriceta.
