Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza stated that they have sent several letters and proposals to Taguig to facilitate the transfer of Makati's owned health centers, including the Makati Hospital (OsMak), into Taguig's jurisdiction.
"We have initiated a series of correspondence and memorandum of agreement (MOA) proposals to the City of Taguig aimed to facilitate the smooth transfer of Makati-owned health facilities to its jurisdiction. However, these have been rejected outright, without valid reason. Unfortunately, Taguig seems adamant about taking over our hospital and health centers without acknowledging our ownership rights," Certeza said.
Makati's proposed agreement pertains to eight barangay health centers in Barangay Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, Pembo, Pitogo, Rizal, South Cembo, and West Rembo, including OsMak.
The Makati City government's proposal includes renting or buying the land and their costs for improvement of the eight health centers, based on the forthcoming evaluation of expenditures by the Commission on Audit (COA).
Regarding OsMak, Makati Mayor Abby Binay offered Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano a credit line to ensure that affected residents can receive treatment in the facility.
"The credit line will function as a financial safety net, enabling Taguig City to provide essential health care services to its residents without immediate upfront payments, particularly in cases where beneficiaries may not have the means to cover their medical costs themselves," was stated in the draft MOA concerning OsMak.
Makati reported that Cayetano did not accept the proposal for OsMak and stated that Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa will handle the matters of the hospital and health centers in the EMBO barangays.
Cayetano additionally stated that this is because Herbosa instructed not to include the issue of ownership in the transition process of the health facilities.
"Makati is willing to let Taguig use its properties without asking them for immediate payment. We are, in fact, deferring to COA to determine the reasonable amount to be charged," Certeza added.
Even data sharing to protect the privacy and sensitive information of all patients of the affected health facilities was also rejected by Taguig, according to Certeza.
"Makati is going out of its way to work out a smooth transition with Taguig, but it is apparently hell-bent on taking over and gaining control of city-owned public facilities without due process. It persists in unduly invoking the Supreme Court decision while refusing to obtain a writ of execution from the court of origin," added the Makati City Administrator.
(Photos by Ospital ng Makati, Ayies and FB Page of Abby Binay)
