Health dept. reveals allegedly anomalous P8.1b project

June 18, 2018

The Department of Health (DOH) revealed it found numerous allegedly anomalous transactions that happened during the time of former secretary Janette Garin amounting to P8.1 billion.

In a press conference Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III bared that there were irregularities in the implementation of the two-phase Barangay Health Station Project.

“I am dismayed and in disbelief with the volume of irregular transactions happening at the Department. We have discovered irregularities in the procurement and implementation of the P8.1 billion,” said Duque.

"I am beyond frustrated. I am saddened and disgusted that the Filipino people are being shortchanged by the very people who were supposed to serve them," he added.

Duque said they discovered this after Barangay Health Service contractor, J. Bros. Construction, sent him a “Letter of Termination of Contract” of the Phase 1 of the project and billed him with P2.9 billion for 429 units last March.

Duque said he convened a task force, headed by Health Undersecretary Roger Tong-an, in April to check.

“The Task Force came up with a report affirming the irregularities cited in the 2017 COA Performance Audit Report on HFEP (Health Facilities Enhancement Program) Projects, in addition to other irregularities discovered in the project,” Duque said.

Tong-an said the DOH ordered all regional directors to validate if Barangay Health Service facilities exist in their areas.

He said that of the supposed 5,700 units, 270 were previously reported to be completed but are without  supporting documents.

“We asked them to have at least 10 documents to be submitted to the Central Office. But, as of now, only around eight units are with document,” said Tong-an.

Duque said the project is primarily aimed at building functional barangay health stations, accredited by PhilHealth, to ensure access of every barangay to primary care, using public elementary schools as identified sites.

“Even at the planning stage, there are already problems. Really bad ones such as having such a project with no completely validated sites to build the Barangay Health Service,” pointed Duque.

Duque said the health department requested COI to conduct a fraud audit.

Duque also said they have submitted documents to the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to aid their own  investigations.

“Heads will roll. Big names, small names, past and present. There will be no sacred cows. Heads will definitely roll," said Duque. DMS