Cuenco mulls rate increase in city health permits

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Ronald Cuenco has proposed to increase the rates of permits for cadaver disposition and other examinations done by the City Health Department.

The proposed ordinance, which will amend the city’s current omnibus tax, was presented by Cuenco for first reading during last Friday’s regular session. The ordinance was immediately referred to the committee on laws and ordinances chaired by Councilor Edgardo Labella for study.

The proposed increase of fees is to cope with the present times where basically all prices of goods and commodities have gone up. Additional collections from the rates adjustments will be used to maintain, if not improve the operations of the CHD.

“The old rates have been imposed 12 years ago so I think we have to be attuned to the present times. We should consider also the inflation rate and of course the increase in the salary of our personnel and increase in reagents to be used,” Cuenco said.

Cuenco heads the committee on health and hospital services.

The burial and exhumation permits will be increased to P50 from P10 and P15, respectively.

Removal or burial of cadaver will be increased from P15 to P50 while the permit to cremate will be up to P200 from P50. Entrance fee from other towns as well as transfer fee will be increased to P30 from its current P25. Under the proposed ordinance cemetery fee will also be increased to P150 from P15.

Health inspection fees for business establishments based on capital will range from P50 to P200 under this ordinance from just P25 to P50.

The health certificate fees for handlers will also increase to P20 from P10.

Those who want to secure medical, dental and other hospital certificates will have to pay P50 instead of P10 while those who want to secure medical and physical examination for employment must pay P50 instead of P30. The new swab sample rapid analysis will already cost P250.

Cuenco believes that the ordinance will be acceptable to many since they are imposing only minimal increases.

“I don’t think it will cause burden because this is only a one shot payment. It is not like you do this everyday. Like if you get a health certificate, you don’t get it every day,” Cuenco said.

“The rate of commodities at that time 12 years ago, we have to be realistic, it’s not the same as today,” he added.

Different establishment owners, especially food establishments and funeral parlors, will be invited later once the council sets the date for the public hearing.

“But I don’t think daghan ang mu-oppose ani because the amount of the increase is very minimal and reasonable,” he said.

Cuenco said that there is also a plan to require even non-food establishments to secure a health clearance due to the emerging disease A (H1N1). But Cuenco said that he is yet to introduce this to the council later. (FREEMAN NEWS)