Ospital ng Makati. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Makati City government’s proposed memorandums of agreement (MOA) seeking for “smooth transfer” of health facilities, services, and data affected by the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to Taguig has been “unreasonably” rejected, according to city administrator Claro Certeza.
Certeza claimed that Taguig’s refusal of the MOA proposals, which cover the Ospital ng Makati (OsMak), eight barangay health centers — their data and patients, hinders the swift transfer of these facilities to the city’s jurisdiction.
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“These (MOA proposals) have been rejected outright without a valid reason. Unfortunately, Taguig seems adamant about taking over our hospital and health centers without acknowledging our ownership rights,” Certeza said in a statement issued on Sunday.
Citing Makati Mayor Abby Binay’s letter addressed to Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, Certeza explained that the former proposed an MOA for OsMak, offering to extend a substantial credit line to Taguig, ensuring affected residents access to essential health care services at these facilities.
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“The credit line shall function as a financial safety net, enabling Taguig City to provide essential health care services to its residents without immediate upfront payments, particularly in cases where beneficiaries may not have the means to cover their medical costs themselves,” the Makati city administrator said quoting a portion of the draft MOA.
In response, Cayetano turned down the proposal on OsMak, reasoning out that Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said that he would “take the lead in any discussions regarding Ospital ng Makati and that both cities must defer to his wishes.”
Another proposal offering Taguig the option to lease or to purchase the land of eight health centers, subject to the appraisal of the Commission on Audit (COA), was likewise rejected by Cayetano, also citing Herbosa’s directive to “exclude the issue of ownership in the transition process.”
Moreover, Certeza lamented that Taguig declined Makati’s proposed data-sharing agreement of eight health centers in Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, Pembo, Pitogo, Rizal, South Cembo, and West Rembo.
“Makati is going out of its way to work out a smooth transition with Taguig, but it is apparently hell-bent on taking over and gaining control of city-owned public facilities without due process. It persists in unduly invoking the Supreme Court decision while refusing to obtain a writ of execution from the court of origin,” Certeza said.