But he said the problem confronting the nurses of the Tinian Health Center should not be left unattended.
“All this boils down to the lack of funds,” he told Variety.
He vowed to find ways and means to address the problem.
As of yesterday, the Tinian nurses had yet to receive their salary.
Dela Cruz said he is “worried” about the situation of the nurses and is trying to secure funding for their payroll up to September.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has declared a state of emergency to allow the reprogramming of funds for the medical personnel of Rota and Tinian.
These employees were hired through the Saipan Employment Agency & Services, whose employees’ work permits were revoked by the Department of Labor due to the company’s failure to pay them their salaries.
SEAS has yet to be paid by the government for the salaries of the Rota and Tinian nonresident medical personnel.
The governor’s state of emergency declaration “stays” Labor’s order against SEAS but it gives the medical personnel no assurances regarding their employment status.
Dela Cruz said the central government asked them to hire directly the 11 nurses and auxiliary staff on Tinian.
But the mayor said the municipal government has no funds to “absorb” the medical personnel.
He said the central government and the Legislature should help his office solve this problem through the passage of a new budget.
The health center’s operations have not been disrupted, Dela Cruz added.
“The nurses are very professional and committed to their work. I am happy that they continue to work extra hard,” he said.
