PGH employees want ‘pork’ abolished, funds given to hospitals

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Employees of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Friday called for “an end to the pork barrel system” and the allocation of funds to public hospitals, Radyo Inquirer 990AM reported.

Health workers, patients and students from University of the Philippines (UP) Manila protested outside the PGH out-patient building to call for the immediate abolition of discretionary funds in government and the prosecution of officials involved in the controversy.

“[President Benigno Aquino III] should stop corruption in the government,” said Benjamin Santos Jr., president of the All UP Workers Union – Manila.

The group said the Priority Development Assistance Fund should be redirected to public hospitals for the benefit of indigent charity patients and additional equipment and medical supplies.

The health workers also demanded an increase in their salaries and benefits, as well as the regularization of contractual employees and the hiring of staff to address shortage in personnel.