DPH may sacrifice non-earning programs

To maximize its limited budget, the Department of Public Health may have to sacrifice a number of its programs, especially those that are non-revenue generating.

DPH Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez said that, as part of belt-tightening measures he recently implemented, he has ordered a review of programs currently under the Division of Public Health and the Community Guidance Center.

“We would have to reduce programs that are costing us money but yield less revenue,” Villagomez said. “We would have to look at key programs that are running.”

CGC currently has 10 programs: Individual Counseling, Behavioral Services Case Management, Addictions, Assessment and Testings, Consultation, Couples Consulting, Family Counseling, Community Mental Health Services, Anger Management, and Prevention and Outreach program.

CGC Substance Abuse Prevention program coordinator Reyna Malone said he trusts that whatever the DPH secretary does will be in the best interest not only of the department but also of the community.

“I trust his judgment,” she said, adding that the secretary met with them last week to discuss the progress of their programs.

Malone said she admires the secretary for his discretion. “It’s been a tough place for him to be into,” she said.

Early reports said the tighter budget has translated to a stricter monitoring of work-hours and a review of staffing requirements at DPH.

Villagomez confirmed that his office is closely monitoring the performance and time of employees, in addition to reviewing the 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 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.

Villagomez 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 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.

He said the hospital has been operating on a $42-million budget, which is the same budget the local government has allocated the public health office in the past eight years.

The DPH secretary said his department will hopefully get a more favorable budget appropriation in fiscal year 2007, despite government revenue projections of only $198 million.

The cash-strapped DPH starts its budget proposal now based on zero budgeting procedures, which means the office bases its budget proposal on the actual needs and requirements of the department.