Makati, Taguig press dispute over ‘Embo’ health facilities

HEALTH CONCERNS | With the loss of their yellow card benefits, residents in the 10 “Embo” barangays now under Taguig City’s jurisdiction worry about their health-care needs. (Filel photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The cities of Makati and Taguig continued their 31-year one-upmanship as the court considered the ownership dispute over Makati facilities located in barangays ceded to Taguig.

The concerned barangays are among the 10 “enlisted men’s barrios” (Embos) that the Supreme Court ruled fell under the jurisdiction of Taguig, which used to host the military’s Fort Bonifacio before it was privatized.

“Since Makati suddenly closed the health centers in ‘Embo’ barangays while it did not want to turn over these facilities to Taguig, Taguig will temporarily provide teleconsultations for residents of Embo barangays who were deprived of essential health services by Makati,” the Taguig government said in a statement on Wednesday.

Taguig City officials said that “Taguig immediately prepared: allocated funds, staff, medicine and equipment for all health centers and lying-in clinics in Embo.”

“The land on which the health centers are located was awarded by the state for the health purpose of the residents,” Taguig officials argued.

“Taguig is ready to provide proper health services to Embo residents. But while the issue of ownership is being debated in court, Taguig must be allowed to manage the health centers and lying-in clinics in Embo and serve its residents.”

But while the high court decided in favor Taguig’s jurisdiction over the Embo barangays, it did not rule on the ownership of the facilities, including schools and health centers, that were built with Makati funds.

Last July, the high court also clarified that Taguig must secure a writ of execution before taking possession of the Embo barangays, but Makati filed its own countersuit over the facilities’ ownership.

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Makati City administrator Claro Certeza said Taguig’s demand to manage the health centers built by Makati was “laughable.”

“The decision of the Supreme Court is about political jurisdiction. It is about political territory, not ownership,” he added.

In a bid to assert ownership of the Embo facilities, Makati shut down its health centers in Taguig purportedly because their licenses to operate expired on Dec. 31.

Moreover, Certeza said Taguig refused to enter into an agreement with Makati regarding the properties and asked why Taguig doesn’t just build its own facilities.

Last September, Taguig also rejected Makati’s suggestion to create a credit line, aiming to guarantee ongoing access for Embo residents to the health centers and Ospital ng Makati.

Taguig City extended free teleconsultation services to Embo residents following the decision by the Makati City government to shut down health centers in that locality.

But Embo residents are saddened by the closure of the Makati facilities, like Lovely Navarro, who said the facilities are “a big deal,” especially if her children get sick.

Another Embo resident, who asked not to be named, said she has not seen any construction or felt any efforts by the Taguig government to fill the health service gap in her community.

Another resident, Joewie Vitero, said that many Embo residents are affected because they are “dependent on the yellow cards” of Makati City.