Dennis Gasgonia

Department of Health Headquarters in  Manila.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div>LGU denies rushed launch ahead of Herbosa visit</div>MANILA - The Department of Health (DOH) has questioned the sudden opening of the Tanza 2 Super Health Center in Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City, on Thursday after learning that the facility, which remained idle for over a year, became operational just in time for Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s inspection with members of the media. The facility, built with a total funding of P11.4 million from the DOH and completed in July 2024, has not served patients for more than a year until the visit, according to the agency’s monitoring report. Herbosa confirmed that the Antipolo facility was completed and turned over to the local government unit but remained unopened until Thursday. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/15/doh-orders-probe-into-unfinished-super-health-centers-marikina-project-under-scrutiny-1924">DOH orders probe into unfinished super health centers; Marikina project under scrutiny</a></div>“Parang nalaman yata nila bibisita ako, kaya nagkanda... Pero at least alam ko nandoon lang sila. So, I don’t know why hindi na-operate for one year. Iyon iyong maganda kong tanong kay city health officer,” he said. The health secretary said he was informed that Thursday marked the first day of the center’s operations. Still, he was pleased to see the facility finally being used despite the delay. The DOH said that the center’s funding came in two phases, P6.4 million for Phase 1 and P4.9 million for Phase 2, completed in July 2024. The agency said that it had also delivered P7 million worth of medical equipment to the LGU between 2022 and 2023. Herbosa said the center should have been operational as soon as it was turned over. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/1/discaya-owned-firm-has-an-unfinished-project-under-doh-herbosa-1528">Discaya-owned firm has an unfinished project under DOH: Herbosa</a></div>“It was completed of July 2024, transferred to them in September. Pero operational today. Matagal pa rin sa akin iyon. The moment i-turn over sa’yo, sana patakbuhin na. ‘Di ba that’s a year? If you see 30 patients a day, ilang libong pasyente na sana ang nakita natin if it was operational,” he said. The DOH chief also said the facility has great potential to serve residents, noting its laboratory and x-ray facilities pending licensing. For her part, Dr. Concepcion Lat, City Health Officer of Antipolo, confirmed that there had been delays in making the facility operational due to equipment procurement and staffing. “To be honest po, ito po ay months lang din namin pinaplano iyong pag-transfer. Hinihintay lang din po namin iyong ating na-order po na mga gamit, then iyong mga staff din po natin,” she said. She added that while the Super Health Center was not in use, healthcare services were continuously provided through nearby barangay health stations. Despite the explanations, Herbosa said the department would still include the Antipolo Super Health Center in its report to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). Antipolo Public Information Officer Relly Bernardo denied that the local government rushed the opening upon learning of Herbosa’s visit. He said preparations had been ongoing for weeks. “Yes, today ito pong Tanza ay sinimulan na po nating gamitin ngayong araw. Pero klaruhin lang po natin na meron po kasi tayong katabi na barangay health stations na taon na ito ay pinapakinabangan ng ating mga kababayan,” Bernardo said. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/6/coa-flags-doh-for-delayed-unimplemented-health-facilities-projects-in-2023-1234">COA flags DOH for delayed, unimplemented health facilities projects in 2023</a></div>He emphasized that the facility could not be opened immediately due to the need for proper licensing and staffing. “Hindi naman po tatakbo ang isang health facility kung wala po itong manpower at iba pong mga gamit. So iyon po iyong kailangan pong gawin ng aming lokal na pamahalaan. At hindi naman po gano’n kadali,” he said. Bernardo added that another Super Health Center in Barangay San Isidro had already been functional since September. “So, kung sasabihin po nila na ginawa po ito o ang pag-ooperate po nito ay dahil sa pagdating po nila, hindi po ito totoo, at pinapabulaanan po natin ito,” he asserted. Herbosa concluded that while he was pleased to see the Antipolo facility finally open, the delay highlighted systemic gaps between infrastructure completion and actual service delivery. The DOH said it will continue to inspect and monitor nearly 300 Super Health Centers nationwide that remain non-operational despite completion, as part of its ongoing transparency and accountability initiative.

The Tanza 2 Super Health Center in Antipolo City, which remained idle for over a year, became operational just in time for Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s inspection with members of the media.

The Tanza 2 Super Health Center in Antipolo City, which remained idle for over a year, became operational just in time for Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s inspection with members of the media.

DOH questions sudden opening of Antipolo super health center

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DOH questions sudden opening of Antipolo super health center

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 16, 2025 04:51 PM PHT

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Updated October 16, 2025 07:29 PM PHT

Read More:

Department of Health

Ted Herbosa

DOH

Antipolo City

Super Health Center

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