SENATOR Bong Go and Congresswoman Vanessa C. Aumenado wanted that nurses’ salaries be cured by increasing it to cushion the impact of shortage of nurses in the country.
“Yeah, of course. For increase of salaries ‘ta,” Aumentado exclusively told this writer in interview today.
This came after a lot of nurses reportedly continue to troop in exodus to find a proverbial “greener pasture” abroad where it offers hefty monthly pay, leaving the country drained of their much-needed medical job for the sick.
Senator Go, chair of the Senate health committee, told Bohol reporters that he also wanted that nurses’ salaries should be hiked to prevent them from leaving the country.
According to U.S. Census Bureau, “Overall, 357,300 Filipino immigrants are working in the U.S. healthcare system today. Of this number, approximately 143,000 (4.5%) of them are Filipino immigrant RNs, making the Philippines still the largest supplier of foreign‐born RNs in the United States.”
She, however, said that this (increase) depends on President Ferdinand R, Marcos, Jr., saying, “But I think the Pres. wants more on the increase sa private.”
But the salary hike in private depends on the size of the hospital. “We can’t just force them to set a high salary. Mao nay gistudyohan pa unsaon ma increase ang private,” she added.
In the government hospitals, she said “govt nurses are medjo ok na but still needed to be increased but d discrepancy of private & govt nurses are maoy medjo layo.”
She said that she’s in favor for increase in both private and public hospital nurses. But “Dats not possible as of this time.”
She said that last year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos made mention on this matter, she said.
President Marcos is expected to deliver his SONA on July 25, 2023, the opening day of Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) regular session after the congressional recess.
The senator visited here to be the guest speaker of the commencement exercises of BIT International College.
During the senator’s visit in Tagbilaran City, Go was welcomed by Gov. Aris Aumentado, husband of Congresswoman Aumentado, Vice-Gov. Dionisio Victor Balite, City Mayor Jane Cajes Yap, ex-mayor Baba Yap, city vice-mayor and barangay officials.
The senator personally announced the Assistance to Individual in Crisis Situation (AICS) distribution of P3,000 each to city’s target 2,000 beneficiaries who trooped to the Saulog gym waiting for him for hours.
Cortes town Mayor Lyn Iven Lim bared that his town also received the same AICS to 1,000 Cortesanon-beneficiaries who received P3,000 apiece.
The senator also made a quick inspection of the Malasakit center situated at Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center, the construction of Super health center in the city and the burnt cogon public market which he poured some P60 million for its reconstruction. The said public market was gutted down in 2018 when the senator visited it days after. (rvo)
