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DPH tightens purse strings due to cuts
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Posted on Apr 20 2006
A tighter budget has translated to a stricter monitoring of work-hours and a review of staffing requirements at the Department of Public Health.
DPH Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez confirmed that his office is indeed closely monitoring the performance and time spent of employees.
“We are closely scrutinizing the personnel,” he said, adding that he is also currently reviewing staffing at the hospital and DPH’s administration office.
He said that, as much as possible, DPH would like to do away with “double dipping” employees and said that he is keeping a sharp eye on the staffing situation and the employees’ performance to maximize the limited budget allocated to DPH this year.
“We are very serious about it; we’re not joking,” said Villagomez, adding that this action was prompted because of the department’s financial woes.
He said he is on top of every employee’s overtime requisitions and that his office has been analyzing the trend of overtime pay at DPH.
The official told Saipan Tribune yesterday that his office has been meeting with program managers and department officers, always reminding them to monitor their staff and their schedules.
He said they are formulating possible ways and means to save up such as hiring entry-level employees rather than paying overtime fees to those who have higher salary levels.
Villagomez said that until the economy gets better, this type of scrutiny would remain at DPH. “A better economy equates to better healthcare as well as better safety and education for the CNMI.”
Villagomez said the hospital has been operating with a $42 million budget, which is the same budget the local government has allocated to the public health office for the past eight years.
“We need cash right now,” he said, adding that he, together with his staff, are trying their best not to avoid wastage.
Villagomez said the budget appropriation for fiscal year 2007 would hopefully provide a better allocation for DPH, despite the revenue projections of $198 million.
The cash-strapped DPH starts its budget proposal based on zero budgeting procedures, which means the office bases its budget proposal on the actual needs and requirements of the department.
