For years, healthcare workers in Cebu’s provincial hospitals endured job-order arrangements while performing the same duties as permanent staff, with some serving for decades without security of tenure.
That situation has now changed after the Cebu Provincial Government approved the regularization and promotion of 85 healthcare workers as part of efforts to strengthen public hospital services across the province.
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) said the move covers 66 former job-order workers who were granted plantilla positions and 19 existing permanent employees who were promoted.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro led the oath-taking of the newly appointed personnel, saying the decision corrects long-standing gaps in the province’s health workforce system.
“It’s really sad. I’m so glad nga before it’s too late, we did the right thing. And I think it is the right thing to do,” the governor said.
She added that some of the workers had served for as long as 27 to 35 years without becoming regular employees.
“I am sorry for what happened in the past, but I want to assure you that in this administration, it will not happen again,” she said.
The appointments include 27 doctors, among them newly designated chiefs of hospitals assigned to district facilities in Badian, Barili, and Oslob.
Other doctors were deployed to hospitals in Balamban, Bogo, Tuburan, Daanbantayan, Oslob, Badian, Barili, and Malabuyoc.
The province also appointed 15 nurses, one dentist, two midwives, one radiologic technologist, five medical technologists, five pharmacists, three nutritionists, two social welfare officers, and 24 support staff composed of administrative personnel and drivers.
PHO chief Shiela Faciol said the regularization is part of a broader effort to upgrade provincial hospitals and meet Department of Health (DOH) accreditation standards.
She said staffing levels remain a key requirement for hospitals aiming for Level 1 and Level 2 accreditation, alongside infrastructure and equipment upgrades.
“Mag increase man ta sa tanang hospital, mag level up man ang mga hospital. Together with that, mag increase pud tag manpower,” Faciol said.
She stressed that hospital improvement cannot rely on equipment alone without adequate personnel to operate and sustain services.
“Mo go together gyud na. Dili gyud mu saka si hospital kung equipment ra. Kinsa may mo-man sa equipment?” she said.
Several district hospitals, including Argao and Malabuyoc, are currently preparing for Level 1 accreditation, while Sogod hospital is undergoing evaluation.
The province is also studying the expansion of selected 10-bed facilities into 25-bed hospitals due to rising patient demand.
Faciol added that regularization may help retain healthcare professionals in government service by providing job stability and improving long-term workforce retention in provincial hospitals. (SBA)
Photo courtesy of Cebu Province
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