(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — Philippine General Hospital (PGH) workers, students, and faculty of the University of the Philippines (UP)-Manila have condemned the decision of the Board of Regents (BOR) for its decision to keep Dr. Gerardo Legaspi as hospital director for the fourth term.
Disgruntled workers belonging to the All UP Workers Union-Manila-PGH led by its president Karen Mae Faurillo said that the board ignored their pleas and clamor for a change of leadership at PGH, commonly known as Ospital ng Bayan.
“The BOR did not hear our pleas, the voice of the hospital workers and other concerned individuals and groups who witness the pitiful conditions at PGH,” Faurillo said in a statement sent to The Manila Times.
Philippine General Hospital workers, professionals, and students protest on the steps of the University of the Philippines on Nov. 28, 2024 during a meeting of the Board of Regents in Diliman, Quezon City on the privatization of the PGH and alleged abuse of term extension limits in UP PGH-Manila. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Echoing the sentiments of her fellow hospital workers, Faurillo said the decision to keep Legaspi in his post is a “huge scandal in UP’s history, wherein the BOR violated the university code’s Article 79 that mandates only two consecutive terms for a hospital director.”
Backed by the Alliance of Health Workers, the PGH workers said they want a new hospital leadership that is “pro-people, pro-health worker, and against privatization of health services.”
The Times tried to reach Legaspi’s office for his comment but a staff member said the director’s office has been closed.
Reports quoted Legaspi as saying that by keeping his position as director he was only following the mandate given to him by the UP administration.
Also, Legaspi said that he wanted to complete his legacy project — the PGH Masterplan or the Infrastructure Development Plan.
Philippine General Hospital workers, professionals, and students protest on the steps of the University of the Philippines on Nov. 28, 2024 during a meeting of the Board of Regents in Diliman, Quezon City on the privatization of the PGH and alleged abuse of term extension limits in UP PGH-Manila. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Philippine General Hospital workers, professionals, and students protest on the steps of the University of the Philippines on Nov. 28, 2024 during a meeting of the Board of Regents in Diliman, Quezon City on the privatization of the PGH and alleged abuse of term extension limits in UP PGH-Manila. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Philippine General Hospital workers, professionals, and students protest on the steps of the University of the Philippines on Nov. 28, 2024 during a meeting of the Board of Regents in Diliman, Quezon City on the privatization of the PGH and alleged abuse of term extension limits in UP PGH-Manila. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Philippine General Hospital workers, professionals, and students protest on the steps of the University of the Philippines on Nov. 28, 2024 during a meeting of the Board of Regents in Diliman, Quezon City on the privatization of the PGH and alleged abuse of term extension limits in UP PGH-Manila. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Philippine General Hospital workers, professionals, and students protest on the steps of the University of the Philippines on Nov. 28, 2024 during a meeting of the Board of Regents in Diliman, Quezon City on the privatization of the PGH and alleged abuse of term extension limits in UP PGH-Manila. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Philippine General Hospital workers, professionals, and students protest on the steps of the University of the Philippines on Nov. 28, 2024 during a meeting of the Board of Regents in Diliman, Quezon City on the privatization of the PGH and alleged abuse of term extension limits in UP PGH-Manila. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
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