Payroll for health corporation personnel still under central govt

Despite its being independent, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation’s payroll covering about 600 personnel on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota remains under the Department of Finance.

According to the corporation’s chief executive officer, Juan N. Babauta, this is because they still have to set up their own financial system, which would take time to accomplish.

The corporation took over the operations of the Commonwealth Health Center and the Tinian and Rota health centers on Oct. 1.

“The paycheck [for all corporation personnel] is still being generated out of the Finance Department because we don’t have yet a system in place. We need to establish our own financial system for us to be able to generate our own finances, but honestly, it will take time and it cannot be done overnight,” he said.

Babauta said it would be irresponsible for the corporation to be cut off immediately from the central government’s financial system.

He didn’t say as to when the corporation will begin paying for the salaries of its employees. The corporation was given a seed money of only $5 million.

This, he said, is why he continues to meet with Finance Secretary Larissa Larson, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, and the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that corporation personnel will still be paid under the government account.

He said the corporation has already opened a separate bank account and that is where it is starting to redirect some of its revenues.

On Friday, Babauta flew to Tinian and met with Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz regarding the corporation’s takeover of the Tinian Health Center. The Rota and Tinian health center used to be under the jurisdiction of municipalities.

Despite the takeover, people still go to their mayors to seek help with their medical needs. In this respect, Babauta said it is only proper to work with the mayor’s office to ensure that people’s needs are being addressed.

“Even though the mayor has no direct jurisdiction under the law, we still need to work together to ensure that we deliver healthcare [services] to people,” he said.

Babauta also met with THC staff and employees to discuss the corporation’s plans and the assessments. Most of the staff’s concerns involved financial, management, and administrative issues.

This week, Babauta is scheduled to meet with employees of the Rota Health Center.