Health comm backs MOA for vehicular accident study

The City Council committee on health, nutrition, and health Insurance, chaired by Councilor Maria Lourdes S. Gaane, deliberated last week the request granting City Mayor Rolando A. Uy the authority to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Health Center for Health Development Northern Mindanao (DOH-CHDNM) to facilitate the allocation of funds to the city government, through JR Borja General Hospital (JRBGH), for the research study titled “Assessment of Vehicular-Related Accidents in Cagayan de Oro City.”

During the meeting, a concern about the timeliness of fund utilization was raised, as the authorization request only reached the committee in January.

Nickol Namoc from DOH-CHDNM’s finance division clarified that, based on directives from the central office, any unutilized funds must be returned by March 31, 2025. However, the release of funds is scheduled until December 31, 2025, giving the implementing agency a full year to complete the project.

The key factor, Namoc emphasized, is the city's commitment to the research, regardless of when the MOA is executed.

“If the city commits to the project, we will reserve the funds, and they will not be included in our report for reversion to the central office. Regional Director Sulpicio Henry M. Legaspi has emphasized minimizing the return of funds,” Namoc explained.

He further suggested that the city government submit a commitment letter to the regional director to secure the funding allocation.

Councilor Gaane expressed strong support for the initiative, stating, “Since the City Legal Office has already given a favorable opinion, we should push for this and have it endorsed as soon as possible. We also need to write to the Regional Director to formalize our commitment.” (JAOclarit/SP)