Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa inspected on Thursday a newly-opened super health center in Antipolo City, which was tagged as completed but non-functional by the Department of Health (DOH).
The DOH said that the super health center in Tanza, Antipolo only began operating on Thursday ahead of Herbosa’s visit.
It added that P11.4 million was allotted for the construction of the two-storey building and an additional P7 million for equipment, as per the request of the city government.
It also noted that the facility was constructed in 2023 and was completed in July 2024. ‘Based on a report to me, this is not functional and was padlocked. But you can see, this is being operational. I’m happy,’ Herbosa told reporters in an interview. Upon inspection, he said that the facility is ‘partially operational’ as the laboratory and x-ray room are not yet functional and would need licensing from the agency first.
But why did the super health center remain non-operational a year after its construction was completed? Dr. Concepcion Lat of the City Health Office explained that the delay was due to the arrival of equipment and lack of manpower.
‘The transfer was being planned for months. We were waiting for the materials we ordered, then the staff,’ Lat said.
Herbosa, who said that he is happy upon inspecting the super health center, said that he does not mind if it just became operational to the public on Thursday.
‘Whether they did it because I was coming to visit or not, it is okay to me, as long as it can be used by the people.’ he said.
Spotting the difference
Meanwhile, Herbosa could not help but to compare the super health center to the one the agency inspected in Marikina City on Wednesday.
When Herbosa visited Concepcion Dos Super Health Center in Marikina, he only saw the first phase of the project. Herbosa on Wednesday said that phase one was supposed to be funded with P11.5 million for a two-storey facility.
He, however, said that plans changed because the local government wanted a four-storey building with a rooftop so the funding for phase one increased to P21.5 million.
‘Ito ang what would give you if you spend P19-20 million as a super health center. Nakita nyo na yung comparison,’ he said, referring to the super health center in Antipolo.
Herbosa noted that a super health center can be completed for with P15 million for construction works, and additional P5 million for medical and other equipment.
Herbosa on Wednesday also revealed that the DOH found 297 ‘non-operational’ super health centers across the country.