PNoy set to appoint Garin permanently, but 'ministerial stuff' must wait after papal visit
File photo of Acting DOH chief Janette Garin with President Aquino. PCOO.GOV.PH PHOTO
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA - President Benigno Aquino III signalled on Friday that he will be appointing Janette Garin as permanent Health secretary, but said he will deal with "ministerial stuff" after the papal visit on Jan. 15-19.
"I am very satisfied with Secretary Garin. We will be putting in another undersecretary to help her. Of course this is subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments," Aquino said in an interview in Romblon aired over state-run Radyo ng Bayan on Friday.
"We will deal with the ministerial stuff after the Pope’s visit," the President told reporters after visiting infrastructure projects in the island province, including a road and a multi-million upgrading of the Romblon Provincial Hospital (RPH).
Garin replaced Secretary Enrique Ona, who resigned amid questions raised over the procurement of PCV-10 vaccine.
Aquino said he will talk to Ona after the investigations on the vaccine procurement have been completed.
Ona, who had denied allegations of wrongdoing, had earlier said he hoped for a chance to meet anew with the President to explain himself fully.
"Of course I’ll talk to him (Ona). But I am still awaiting the completion of all of the investigations so we can have a conclusion to the issues," the President said.
Mr. Aquino indicated the final action on Garin's fate will be dealt with after Pope Francis leaves on the 19th, adding he did not wish to disrupt the difficult task of officials involved in the papal visit.
Garin accompanied the President to Romblon, where he inspected the provincial hospital in Odiongan town. The hospital is due for upgrading, and services 17 other towns in Romblon.
Romblon hospital serves 17 towns
Located in the municipality of Odiongan in Tablas Island, the RPH is the only Level 1 hospital in the province. It provides various health services, such as surgical, medical, maternal and health care, dental and clinical laboratory services.
The hospital, which serves 17 municipalities, is manned by 87 personnel. It has a 75-bed capacity and serves an average of 65 patients daily.
The hospital’s Building 1, which cost P138 million, has already been fully operational since April last year. It is a four-level building, which houses the hospital’s administrative section, pediatrics department, internal medicine department, temporary laboratory, emergency rooms, wards and offices as well as storage rooms for the Botika ng Lalawigan, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, PhilHealth, and Department of Health.
Building 2, meanwhile, is 95 percent complete. The project cost P118 million and the building’s third floor is intended for X-ray, CT scan, labor and delivery rooms, operation rooms, and Neonatal Intensive Care rooms. It also has wards and private rooms.
This year, the RPH will start construction of Building 3, which will house the laboratories, emergency room, operating room, Intensive Care Unit, five bed wards and private rooms. The proposed funding for the project is P84 million.
Aside from the buildings, the RPH has also completed the construction of its Blood Center, conference hall and quarters for doctors.
The hospital’s infrastructure development projects form part of the Province-wide Investment Plan for Health (PIPH) for the entire province, with funding support provided by a European Commission (EC) Grant and the Department of Health.
The PIPH is a five-year plan that seeks to address the different health concerns of the province for calendar years 2005 to 2009. However, its implementation began only in 2007.
Through the DOH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program, the RPH was allocated P526.92 million for the construction of two buildings and P7.04 million for medical equipment.
"I am very satisfied with Secretary Garin. We will be putting in another undersecretary to help her. Of course this is subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments," Aquino said in an interview in Romblon aired over state-run Radyo ng Bayan on Friday.
"We will deal with the ministerial stuff after the Pope’s visit," the President told reporters after visiting infrastructure projects in the island province, including a road and a multi-million upgrading of the Romblon Provincial Hospital (RPH).
Garin replaced Secretary Enrique Ona, who resigned amid questions raised over the procurement of PCV-10 vaccine.
Aquino said he will talk to Ona after the investigations on the vaccine procurement have been completed.
Ona, who had denied allegations of wrongdoing, had earlier said he hoped for a chance to meet anew with the President to explain himself fully.
"Of course I’ll talk to him (Ona). But I am still awaiting the completion of all of the investigations so we can have a conclusion to the issues," the President said.
Mr. Aquino indicated the final action on Garin's fate will be dealt with after Pope Francis leaves on the 19th, adding he did not wish to disrupt the difficult task of officials involved in the papal visit.
Garin accompanied the President to Romblon, where he inspected the provincial hospital in Odiongan town. The hospital is due for upgrading, and services 17 other towns in Romblon.
Romblon hospital serves 17 towns
Located in the municipality of Odiongan in Tablas Island, the RPH is the only Level 1 hospital in the province. It provides various health services, such as surgical, medical, maternal and health care, dental and clinical laboratory services.
The hospital, which serves 17 municipalities, is manned by 87 personnel. It has a 75-bed capacity and serves an average of 65 patients daily.
The hospital’s Building 1, which cost P138 million, has already been fully operational since April last year. It is a four-level building, which houses the hospital’s administrative section, pediatrics department, internal medicine department, temporary laboratory, emergency rooms, wards and offices as well as storage rooms for the Botika ng Lalawigan, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, PhilHealth, and Department of Health.
Building 2, meanwhile, is 95 percent complete. The project cost P118 million and the building’s third floor is intended for X-ray, CT scan, labor and delivery rooms, operation rooms, and Neonatal Intensive Care rooms. It also has wards and private rooms.
This year, the RPH will start construction of Building 3, which will house the laboratories, emergency room, operating room, Intensive Care Unit, five bed wards and private rooms. The proposed funding for the project is P84 million.
Aside from the buildings, the RPH has also completed the construction of its Blood Center, conference hall and quarters for doctors.
The hospital’s infrastructure development projects form part of the Province-wide Investment Plan for Health (PIPH) for the entire province, with funding support provided by a European Commission (EC) Grant and the Department of Health.
The PIPH is a five-year plan that seeks to address the different health concerns of the province for calendar years 2005 to 2009. However, its implementation began only in 2007.
Through the DOH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program, the RPH was allocated P526.92 million for the construction of two buildings and P7.04 million for medical equipment.
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