Sundered by Time (Manila Series #1)

Chapter 35

"May kulang sa funds na ginastos niyo. Saan napunta ang ibang budget?"

Pinipilit kong kalmahin ang sarili. A budget was intended for the facilities, pero tinipid nila iyon.

"Why are you questioning your own department? Ikaw dapat ang namumuno diyan. That's the reason why you don't deserve that position, Secretary. You are obviously unexperienced in this field." Nilapag ko ang bote ng tubig at siniguradong natakpan iyon ng maayos. Hinawakan ko ulit ang records at tinapat ang bibig sa microphone.

"I am very much aware of it, but the reason why I am questioning my own department and office is simply because I gave them specific instructions containing the budget intended. Wala po akong sinabi na babaan ang bilang ng mga gagamitin para sa project dahil computed na ang lahat."

Kausap ko na ngayon ang ilang gabinete na bumabatikos at ang ilan ay nagsasaad ng solusyon sa problema. Back then, I questioned why offices are butting in to others. I realized that some are simply looking for a hole to drag you down and yet, there are also people who are concerned about certain issues.

Sumandal siya at prente akong timignan, para bang sigurado siya sa lahat ng lumalabas sa bibig niya. "That means there's a rat in your own grounds."

"The department is not my own, this is for the nation and in every institution, there's a rat. Hindi mawawalan ng peste sa mundo. I already investigated and makes sure that the expenses are balanced. Sa ibang banda naman po, laging nawawalan ng supply ng gamot ang mga barangay health center kaya ginagawan namin iyon ng paraan sa pamamagitan ng paglipat ng funds na nakatala dapat sa pagpapatayo ng hospital."

"Kung hindi mo tinitipid, bakit naman sa ganitong paraan?"

Tinignan ko ang sumingit sa usapan. "Sir, how many millions are spent on infrastructures? Almost half a billion! Wala pa doon ang machinery at sahod. Imagine, that could've saved the lives of many by providing them free checkups and low cost of their surgeries. Our healthcare system is worse, no one would deny it. One of the factors is spending the budget on the bright ideas of some that are not the priority. Mabagal na pamamalakad sa mga hospital at hindi magandang machine? Improve. Malaking gap sa ratio ng nurse at pasyente? Hire and increase the minimum wage of our fellows who are exhausted with their daily duties! May mga nasa malalayong lugar? Plan to visit them and provide accessible centers instead of spending a grand hospital for a hundred people."

Nagtitinginan ang mga tao sa loob ng meeting room. They sense the tension between us and one of them are planning to come up with a perfect timing.

"Hindi naman sila priority."

Mabilis akong nagtaas ng kilay at binalingan ang lalaking nakasandal. Mabilis din na umangal ang ilan. "At bakit po hindi sila priority? With this type of mentality, it seems like you disregard the importance of health. If our fellow Filipinos are sick, economy will tumble."

People nodded their heads and it seems like this man doesn't like the way they reacted. "That's not our prio-"

Hindi ko maintindihan ang logic niya. "I apologize to cut you off but do you oppose the nature of life? Kapag po ba may sakit kayo, nagagawa niyo pang makisabay sa takbo ng mga buhay? Nagagawa mong magtrabaho at maglahad ng pagkain sa mesa ng pamilya mo o kahit ang mag saka? People have different wages and origin, Sir, and we didn't choose where we are from."

Naiirita na ako. Kanina pa kasi! Kaya ang taas ng gasolina at singil sa kuryente ngayon, ganito mag-isip ang nakatalaga e.

"You're really disrespectful. Don't act so high, Madam." He's getting personal and it's out of the context.

Hindi ko alam ang pinaglalaban niya at sumasakit ang ulo ko! Para akong tumatanda dahil pakiramdam ko tumataas ang aking altapresyon. Gaano ka-bobo ang napupunta sa puwesto ganitong ng gobyerno? Hindi ko na napigilan na hindi mag-isip ng masama tungkol sa kaniya, nakaka punyeta.