(Photo from Liza Aperin)
According to a statement released by Taguig City, Makati is being deceitful concerning its reason for the expiration of the license to operate of the health centers in EMBO, necessitating their closure.
"This is deception and fraud. Health centers do not require a license to operate (LTO) unless it is a registered primary care facility. There is only one registered primary care facility in EMBO, the Pitogo Health Center, which has a license valid for three years. Therefore, all the health centers in EMBO can continue operations if they wish to provide service," said the statement from Taguig City.
(Photo from Taguig PIO)
Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza responded by saying that the Taguig City was reminded by the Department of Health to apply for the renewal of the license to operate for ten health centers in EMBO with the DOH Regulation, Licensing, and Enforcement Division to ensure the continuity of health services in these barangays.
"Taguig has long known that the health centers in EMBO barangays were to close even before Makati announced it. They also knew that a License to Operate was needed for the health centers in EMBO. This was further emphasized to them by the Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD) of the Department of Health (DOH) in a letter dated November 21, 2023. What was Taguig's action? None," according to Certeza.
(Photo of Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza)
Taguig, however, insisted that Makati City reneged on the initial agreement for the peaceful and orderly transfer of the EMBO health centers under the administration of Taguig City.
According to Taguig's statement, in a meeting in September 2023, the Mayor of Makati proposed that Taguig manage the health centers beginning October 1, 2023, and they had already allocated funds for the personnel, medicines, and equipment of the health centers and lying-in clinics in EMBO.
However, they claimed that Makati backtracked from this agreement "and suddenly made it a condition that Taguig surrender its rights to the ownership of the health centers and the land on which these are located. Strictly speaking, the issue of ownership is not a hindrance to the orderly transfer of management of the health centers, as the parties have also agreed to separate the issue of ownership, which should be brought to court," according to Taguig City's statement.
Certeza, on the other hand, said that it was Taguig that backed out of the agreement after refusing to enter a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Makati regarding the properties owned and managed by Makati.
Taguig also allegedly refused a Data Sharing agreement.
"From the start, Taguig has flatly refused all proposals coming from Makati to ensure uninterrupted access to health services in the EMBO barangays. Instead, they continue to make the outrageous claim that they own the public facilities constructed by Makati and the land on which these facilities have been built," added Certeza.
Taguig, however, said they are ready to prove their ownership of the land and public facilities in EMBO based on the Supreme Court's decision that EMBO barangays are under Taguig's jurisdiction.
"We want to clarify again: Taguig is ready to prove its ownership of the lands and public facilities in EMBO. Taguig is ready to provide proper health services to EMBO residents. But while the issue of ownership is being disputed in court, Taguig should be allowed to manage the health centers and lying-in clinic in EMBO and serve its residents. The lives and health of the people should not be played with in politics," said the statement from Taguig City.
The ten EMBO barangays affected by the end of the use of the yellow card at OsMak and the closure of health centers are Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, Pembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, Rizal, South Cembo, and West Rembo.
(Art cards from Taguig PIO)
