ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Oct 10 (PIA) – The Office of the Chief Minister in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Basilan General Hospital recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the provision of medical assistance.

Under the MOA, the Office of the Chief Minister has the responsibilities to;

1.     Allocate the amount of Five Million Pesos (Php 5,000,000.00) for this program to be charged against is General Appropriation Act of the Bangsamoro (GAAB 2022) and transfer the same to the account of the Basilan General Hospital, subject to government accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

2.     Designate evaluation officers to be stationed at the Bangsamoro Government who shall review the applications of prospective beneficiaries for medical assistance in accordance with the Guidelines of AMBaG.

3.     Endorse to the BGH the approved applications of beneficiaries, specifying the amount granted to the beneficiaries in accordance with the Guidelines of AMBaG.

4.     Monitor and evaluate the progress of the implementation of the program, including the utilization of funds; and

5.     Subject to availability of funds, replenish the allocation for the program upon submission of complete liquidation by the BGH.

Meanwhile, the Basilan General Hospital has also the responsibilities to;

1.     Receive and utilize the fund in accordance with the objectives of the medical assistance program and the terms and conditions set forth in the Memorandum of Agreement.

2.     Issue an Official Receipt (OR) and record the amount received from the Bangsamoro Government as a Trust Liability account and maintain a subsidiary ledger for the purpose;

3.     Accommodate only the beneficiaries endorsed by the Bangsamoro Government for consultation, medication and/or hospitalization.

4.     Deduct from the total bill the amount granted to the beneficiaries to be charged against the allocation, after deducting the PhilHealth Insurance, 4Ps and other applicable benefits.

5.     Submit a monthly liquidation report to the Bangsamoro Government stating therein the personal information of the beneficiaries accommodated, the medical services rendered  to them and the actual amounts availed of, and

6.     Ensure that the disbursement of funds shall be in accordance with existing COA rules and regulations, specifically COA Circular Nos. 94-013 and 2021-001. In no case shall the fund transferred be utilized for the payment of additional compensation to employees in the form of allowances, incentive pay, bonuses, honorarium or other terms of additional compensation, except as may be authorized by law or exiting regulations, nor shall it be used to create new positions to augment salaries of regular personnel or purchase of motor vehicles without prior approval of the Chief Minister.

With this partnership, Dra. Amilasan is grateful to the Bangsamoro Government for the support extended to BGH which will ease the burdens of Basileños in terms of their medical expenses.

“Malaking pasasalamat natin sa Bangsamoro Government lalung-lalo na sa ating Chief Minister na nagtiwala sa Basilan General Hospital at nagbigay ng ganitong suporta sa pamamagitan ng AMBaG program na malaking tulong para sa kalusugan ng mga Basileño,” Dra Amilasan expressed.

The Basilan General Hospital is the only Department of Health-retained, level-1 hospital in the island of Basilan. (RVC/NDR-PIA Basilan)