With the Babauta administration projecting a $24-million budget deficit this year, the Department of Public Health said it has adopted a new policy on vehicle use as part of its belt-tightening measures. <\/p>\n
Acting Public Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider said the department is consolidating its vehicles under one office, the Division of Hospital Administration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole purpose is to consolidate vehicles under one division to make sure that we monitor their use, ensure proper maintenance, and also, so that we can share,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past, when a vehicle is assigned to a unit, basically the car is kept within that unit,\u201d Hofschneider explained.<\/p>\n
As a result, some offices within the department had to rent vehicles when needed, even if some of the service cars assigned to some other offices were not being used.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith all vehicles consolidated, perhaps if the vehicle is idle, another unit may be able to use that, because some of them do not use the unit 24 hours a day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The new policy is on top of the travel policy Hofschneider initiated at the department. <\/p>\n
He said travel costs are being contained by screening travel applications through a travel committee he created.<\/p>\n
Hofschneider said the department has also cut down on overtime of employees, excluding that of much-needed positions related to hospital care.<\/p>\n
Ed Guerrero, the department\u2019s chief financial officer, is overseeing the department\u2019s cost cutting measures, according to Hofschneider.<\/p>\n
The DPH has been projecting a budget deficit of $13 million, even if the department has implemented an array of cost-cutting measures that include salary freeze and frugality in utility use.<\/p>\n
Hofschneider had said the department\u2019s expenditures have reached $20 million, and it is expected to reach $44 million before the year ends.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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