• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Sagay City treasurer Juvy Pinongan is now in hot water for failing to distribute the P7.3 million Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) of health workers assigned to the Alfredo Maranon Sr. Memorial District Hospital.
Mayor Narciso “Narwin” Javelosa Jr. disclosed on Monday that Pinongan is currently under investigation by the City Legal Office, in connection with the HEA complaints of doctors, nurses, and other health workers, which were brought to his attention through a formal letter.
In the meantime, Javelosa said he initially borrowed P7.3 million to pay for the HEA of the hospital health workers.
Health workers were entitled to HEA after rendering services during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
In an interview with RMN DYHB, Alain Ray Rivera disclosed that there are 276 health workers who are HEA beneficiaries at the Alfredo Maranon Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Sagay.
Javelosa disclosed that Pinongan had withdrawn the HEA funds in the amount of P22 million on August 16, which she started to distribute from Aug. 19 to 22.
But for still unknown reasons, she failed to distribute the remaining amount of P7.3 million, he added.
When he summoned and confronted Pinongan at his office, Javelosa said he was told by the City Treasurer that she was busy at that time, and that she forgot the combination of the vault, where the money was allegedly being kept.
He described the claims and alibi of Pinongan as “impossible,” stressing that she had been using the vault for several years.
Pinongan, who was transferred from the Provincial Capitol to the Sagay City government in 2018, went on leave from Aug. 29 to September 5. When she returned to duty on Sept. 6, Javelosa said she was already accompanied by a lawyer.
Asked about her present status, Javelosa said Pinongan is still on active duty, while he assigned Atty. Brent Donasco at the City Treasurer’s Office to monitor all her actions.*
