The Department of Health (DOH) has raised concerns over nearly half of the 600 super health centers funded since 2021 remaining incomplete or non-operational. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa disclosed on Wednesday that 297 of these community-based facilities are either still in early construction phases—or, in some cases, exist only on paper.
“Some were completed only on paper, others were stuck in Phase 1, just foundations covered in weeds,” Herbosa revealed during an inspection at the Concepcion Dos Super Health Center in Marikina City.
Super health centers are intended to decongest hospitals and bring accessible health care closer to communities. Each facility is expected to be completed within two years. According to Herbosa, the ongoing investigation, handled by the DOH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Project, aims to verify the actual status of these centers and ensure their completion.
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Marikina Pushes Back on DOH Claim
The Marikina City government strongly refuted the DOH’s implication that the Concepcion Dos health center should have been completed by now. Mayor Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro said the department’s statements “mislead the public,” clarifying that the national agency only released funding for the first phase of construction.
“The facts are clear. The funds released by the DOH were only for the first phase of construction. It is therefore false to claim that the entire facility could have been completed with such limited funds,” Teodoro asserted.
She explained that Marikina has finished the foundation and structural works as certified by the DOH itself. Teodoro stressed that delays are due to the agency’s failure to release additional funds needed for subsequent phases.
“DOH should not mislead the people about the truth. When they release funds, it should be complete. The public suffers because of what DOH is doing,” the mayor emphasized.
Funding Gaps and Accountability
City Administrator Dr. Mark Castro confirmed that the local government has already fulfilled its responsibilities under Phase 1 and has been seeking additional funding of P180 million to complete the facility up to its fourth floor. To keep the project moving, Marikina allocated P200 million from its 2026 Annual Implementation Plan.
“The city really finished it. There’s nothing being hidden here. We requested additional funds, but none were given. The funds were insufficient,” Castro said.
Meanwhile, Herbosa acknowledged that many of the unfinished facilities are in Luzon. He said the DOH will coordinate with local government units to verify project statuses and ensure that all 297 super health centers become operational.
Bigger Picture: Delays Hit Public Health Access
The unfinished centers highlight a critical gap in the country’s healthcare infrastructure, one that directly affects access to basic services in communities. These facilities were envisioned to ease congestion in hospitals and bring essential health services closer to Filipinos, especially in underserved areas.
For many communities, each delayed health center is not just an unfinished structure but also a lost opportunity for timely medical care. Ensuring the completion of these projects means delivering on a promise of more accessible and equitable health services for all.
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