Akbayan Partylist’s Chel Diokno to DOH: Address persistent Health Facilities Enhancement Program issues to meet healthcare needs of poor Filipinos
Akbayan Partylist Rep. Chel Diokno called on the Department of Health (DOH) to look into and address the persistent problems in the implementation of the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), stressing that its inefficiencies deny poor Filipino families of essential health services.
During the DOH budget deliberations, Diokno underscored the importance of HFEP, which seeks to widen access to healthcare by building new facilities and upgrading existing ones nationwide, including barangay health stations, rural and urban health centers, and LGU (local government unit)-run hospitals.
“Kung hindi maayos ang pagtakbo ng HFEP, ang nadedehado ang mga mahihirap na pamilyang Pilipino. Dehado na sila sa pagkain, dehado na sila sa trabaho. Pati sa health kung palpak ang HFEP ay dehado din,” Diokno told the DOH budget sponsor, Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia.
Citing DOH data, ₱170 billion has been allocated to HFEP infrastructure and equipment in the past decade, rising to about ₱400 billion if commodities and human resources are included. However, only 200 out of 600 health centers are functioning nationwide, with many facilities not functioning or remaining idle.
Diokno also raised concern about the DOH’s failure to immediately address the 2017 Commission on Audit performance audit recommending stronger procurement, monitoring, and evaluation systems for HFEP.
“Kaya ko po tinatanong iyan dahil noon pang 2017 ang Commission on Audit sa isang performance audit report ay inisa-isa po nila itong dapat ginawa ng Department of Health. Hindi po ng mga LGU kundi ng Department of Health mismo para ayusin ang HFEP dahil nga ang nadedehado, kung hindi maayos ang delivery ng health facilities enhancement program, ay ang mga mahihirap po na mga Pilipino, mga pamilya,” he pointed out.
“I’m wondering why it’s been seven years since this performance audit report was made but only now that these controls are being strengthened by the department,” he added.
Citing a study conducted by the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS), Diokno also called out the unequal HFEP fund distribution, with some wealthier LGUs still receiving allocations despite not being among those with the greatest need.
“Meron pong study ang PIDS…ang naging finding nila ‘yung talagang nangangailangan ay hindi nabibigyan or hindi napopondohan ng health facilities enhancement program,” he said.
Diokno also called on the DOH to allocate sufficient budget for the implementation of a health-based approach to the drug problem, in line with Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s statement that the administration’s anti-drug campaign will be “more humane and health-based.”
According to the DOH, it follows World Health Organization standards in addressing substance abuse and operates 17 drug treatment and rehabilitation centers nationwide, with a budget of ₱1.75 billion for 2025 and ₱2.06 billion for 2026. Utilization of these centers is high, at 97% to 98%.
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