By LITO RULONA Correspondent   A FORMER councilor on Saturday criticized city hall for spending some P140 million to provide residents with health insurance coverage, calling it a waste of money. Over local radio, ex-councilor President Elipe said this as he frowned over reports that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. has recognized the city hall-owned JR Borja Memorial General Hospital as the second hospital with the highest Philhealth-paid claims in Northern Mindanao last year. Elipe called the reports “misinformation.” “Ilaron og ilang tuntuhon ang mga tawo kay No. 2 sila sa Philhealth,” he said. He said what happened was that city hall spent for the premiums even of people without hospitalization needs. Records show that city hall paid Philhealth some P140 million in 2016 or P20 million higher than what it spent for premiums in 2015. Ninety-three of the patients were Philhealth beneficiaries and were able to avail of free services. That resulted in a dramatic increase in the hospital’s revenues. From January to September 2016, its income surged to P135 million from P19 million in 2013. In 2014, its revenues reached P65 million, and then to P120 million in 2015. Its highest recorded monthly income was P23 million in March 2016. Because of the revenue spike, city hall is reportedly planning on undertaking an expansion program for the hospital that would include hiring 11 more physicians, 40 additional nurses, and 60 more administrative support staff members. It also plans to expand the hospital by constructing more buildings. The hospital’s executive officer, Ramon Nery, called Philhealth as the institution’s “bread and butter,” noting that most patients admitted to the hospital are automatically enrolled in the national health insurance program. But Elipe said city hall’s spendings for Philhealth premiums were an “excessive wastage of people’s money.” Elipe said what city hall should have done was to bring the health aid to the barangays the way it is being done in Misamis Oriental, referring to the Misorcares program of the administration of his brother-in-law, Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano. “Ang Misorcares sa Misamis Oriental, klaro man kaayo nga gisuportahan sa katawhan sa Misamis Oriental og ang serbisyo klaro kaayo nga tua gayud paingon sa matag-barangay sa matag-lungsod,” he said. In Misamis Oriental, Elipe said, the capitol only pays Philhealth if the need arises, specifically if a patient gets admitted to a hospital. “Walay dautan sa Philhealth program [except for] the investment made by the city government on premiums that was supported by the members of the city council. Patsada unta paminawon kung unsa ang inyung nahatag ngadto sa mga pasyente dili kay unsa inyung na-income sa Philhealth. Dako lugar ang inyung naginansiya,” he said. Elipe played prominent roles in city hall as a councilor during the latter part of the Magtajas administration, and as a consultant and councilor during the Emano administration. He served his last office term as councilor during the first office term of Mayor Oscar Moreno. After his defeat in the race for provincial board seats last year, he was given the task of managing the capitolun Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center.