BILL of Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Monday passed third and final reading approval in the Senate that seeks to increase the bed capacity of Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) to 1,200 from 600 beds.
The proposal is contained in HB 7974 authored by deputy speaker Rodriguez as he said an important health initiative in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the bill, the health care services and facilities of NMMC shall be upgraded “to conform with and be commensurate to the bed capacity increase.”
The number of medical personnel, budget for personnel services, and maintenance and other operating expenses of the NMMC shall also be increased.
The proposed measure directs the secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) to coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Commission on Civil Services (CSC) in determining the additional plantilla positions.
“The NMMC caters to patients not only from Cagayan de Oro City but also region-wide,” said Rodriguez, adding he was very thankful that the Senate approved his proposal.
“This will significantly help the NMMC to accommodate more patients, especially at this time of COVID-19 pandemic,” Rodriguez said.
The bill was transmitted to Malacanang for enactment as law by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Once President Duterte signs the approved bill into law, the NMMC budget which for 2022 is: PS (Personnel Services/Salaries) - P1,061,522,000; MOOE - P205,367,000; CO - P125,000,000 with the total of P1,391,889,000.
Rodriguez said the NMMC budget will be doubled to at least P2 billion in 2023 for additional medical equipment, facilities, and hiring of more doctors, nurses, other hospital personnel.
It can be recalled that 6 years ago, the NMMC increased its bed capacity from 300 to 600 beds through the efforts and the Republic Act 10677 authored by Rodriguez. (Ben Balce)
