Signs indicating ownership between Makati City and Taguig City hang on the gate of Tibagan High School on August 17, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) said it was ready to help address the issue of closed health centers in EMBO barangays amid its transfer to Taguig, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said on Saturday.  

In a chance interview, Herbosa said DOH is trying to cater to the healthcare needs of Makati and Taguig residents.

“We are ready to help both Mayor Lani Cayetano and Abby Binay come up with the solution. We are there to support the people in the area, the jurisdiction of Taguig, formerly Makati,” he told members of the media.

Many functions of the national government, including healthcare, have been devolved to local governemnt units under the Local Government Code.

The health chief’s statement came after Makati Mayor Abby Binay criticized Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano for how he treated the former during the DOH’s budget hearing at the Senate earlier this week.

Cayetano, husband of Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, had confronted Herbosa about what he did after health centers in EMBO barangays were locked by the Makati government.

Cayetano confronts DOH over ‘locked’ EMBO health centers at budget hearing

But Binay described the senator’s move as a form of “intimidation,” saying the healthcare of EMBO residents is the prime responsibility of the Taguig local government.

“It has been more than a year since the Supreme Court decided to give the EMBO barangays to Taguig. Makati even did what was expected of a good neighbor, even if it was not reciprocated by Taguig, by continuing to provide health services for EMBO residents until the end of 2023. One year is more than enough time for them to work on their health programs,” said Binay.

“Sa nakalipas na taon, itinaas na ba ng Taguig ang health budget nila? Naglagay ba sila ng budget para sa libreng maintenance medicine para sa mga taga-Taguig?” she added.

(In the past year, has Taguig raised its health budget? Did they allocate a budget for free maintenance medicine for Taguig residents?)

Makati blasts Taguig, says it knew beforehand ‘embo’ health centers will be closed

The Makati local government earlier this year closed the health centers and lying-in clinics in the 10 EMBO.

This, after the jurisdiction over these barangays were transferred to Taguig City from Makati City following decades of court battles that concluded at the Supreme Court.

Despite the closure of health centers in EMBO areas, Taguig has said residents could still access medical services through their telemedicine facility.

They have also identified health centers in the city as catchment centers for patients of EMBO barangays who may need to visit a health facility.