DOH inspects partially-operational health center in Antipolo

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — The Department of Health (DOH) inspected Thursday a super health center in Antipolo that had been inoperative since its completion in July 2024.

The super health center's first day of operation coincided with Health Secretary Ted Herbosa's surprise inspection.

The DOH said the construction of the super health center cost P11.4 million and was provided with equipment worth P7 million in 2022 and 2023 upon the request of the local government unit.

DOH inspects partially-operational city health center in Antipolo. The facility was initially reported as completed since July 2024, but was not operational until today. @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/DaRFwuVdD7

— Jiselle Casucian (@jaycecasucian) October 16, 2025

Herbosa said he was satisfied in his inspection, having found a partially operating but completely constructed facility.

“Ito 'yung what [you will have] if you spend P19 million to P20 million. You see the comparison… I’m very happy here. Actually, natutuwa ako sa visit ngayon kasi you can see the potential,” he said.

(This is what you will have if you spend P19 million to P20 million. You see the comparison… I’m very happy here. Actually, I am happy about this visit because you can see the potential.)

DOH is set to assist the center in licensing its radiology department and laboratories for operation.

The health center said that they are also in search for radiology technicians, radiologists, and additional nurses.

Despite this, Herbosa said that the Tanza II Health Center in Antipolo will still be part of the 297 facilities he will be reporting for further investigation to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) as it was still not in complete operation.

The current inspection follows after DOH conducted a surprise inspection on Wednesday on an incomplete and inoperative health center in Marikina which was originally reported as completed.

Partially operational

The Tanza II Super Health Center was partially operational during the visit, having already looked at 18 patients since 8 a.m.

Antipolo City Government Department Head I Dr. Concepcion Lat confirmed that the health center only began to operate Thursday morning. She said they planned to transfer in September, but was moved to October 16 due to some delays in hiring and operations.

“More than a month na po 'yung gamit dito eh. Kahit i-review ninyo 'yung CCTV diyan makikita ninyo na ilang beses kami bumalik para maipaayos ito,” she said.

(The equipment have been here for over a month. Even if you review the CCTV there, you can see that we’ve been going back and forth to fix this.)

“We find it unfair [that we were accused of operating only for inspection]… We admit na ito pong facility inoperate lang today, pero meron pong katabing facility na fully-functional na po at nagagamit na ng taumbayan,” added Antipolo City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office Department Head Enrelito Bernardino Jr.

(We find it unfair [that we were accused of operating only for inspection]… We admit that this facility was only operated today, but we do have another facility next to it that is fully-functional and used by the public.)

The City Health Office displayed the health center’s pharmacy and doctor’s offices, and said that they were targeting to operate the second floor of the center as a laboratory and x-ray facility by November. —AOL, GMA Integrated News