House panel suspends DOH budget hearing amid HFEP fund questions

The House Committee on Appropriations on Monday suspended deliberations on the Department of Health's (DOH's) budget as lawmakers questioned its allocation of funds under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).

During the DOH’s 2021 budget briefing, Anakalusugan party-list Representative Mike Defensor questioned the department’s HFEP funds allocation with some barangay health stations getting at least P100,000 a year for the enhancement of their facilities.

Despite this, Defensor claimed that there were no health facilities in areas where they were needed the most.

“Every year we will be spending P20 billion for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program. Halos ang laki po ng pondo nito. Papayagan na lang po ba natin taong-taon na wala lang? ‘Di na lang po natin papansinin?” Defensor asked.

“From 2013 to 2016, ang budget na po ng HFEP is about P55 billion. To date, siguro may P100 billion na ‘yan. Pero may nakita po ba tayong changes in the health care sector?” he added.

Defensor also said residents would often choose private hospitals over government-owned facilities because the latter were inadequately equipped.

He added that there was also a need to build additional public hospitals across the country.

“Ang ginawa nila sinalubong nila ‘yong ilalim. Hindi pa malakas ‘yong level 1 and level 2 hospitals natin so ibig sabihin po ‘pag nagkasakit ka at hindi kaya noong isang barangay, which is more likely the case, pupunta ka na sa private hospital,” he said.

Deputy Speaker Dan Fernandez also said the DOH can be construed as favoring certain local government units if it will not be able to explain the basis of the allocation of the HFEP funds.

“I-identify muna natin ang mga needed areas. Mag-construct tayo ng mga ospital na kailangan ng taong bayan. Otherwise, this can be construed as prioritizing ‘yong mga bagay na malalakas sa DOH na kung saan sila muna binibigyan ng malaking pondo,” Fernandez said.

Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Lilibeth David explained that in allocating the budget for HFEP, the department prioritizes the procurement of its equipment then the completion of the infrastructure.

She added that the funds were also based on the LGU and the regional offices’ proposal.

However, Defensor was unconvinced with the explanation and moved for the suspension of the budget briefing.

“Without plausible explanation, walang malinaw na paliwanag dito sa pondong ‘to, I move to suspend the approval of the budget of the Department of Health,” he said.

His motion was seconded by Aklan Representative Teodorico Haresco Jr.

No lawmaker objected to the motion and hearings were suspended.

The House panel has yet to set a date for the resumption of deliberations on the Health Department’s budget.

Earlier on Monday, the House panel terminated the 2021 budget briefing for the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President. — DVM, GMA News