MANILA – The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Department of Health (DOH) for the unimplemented Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) worth P2.83 billion in 2023.
According to COA, there were delayed completion/implementation, unutilized infrastructure and unimplemented projects under HFEP amounting to P2,831,125,982.56.
DOH’s budget for the 2023 HFEP were allotted for the construction, upgrading, or expansion of government healthcare facilities, purchase of hospital equipment and motor vehicles, prioritization of projects under the Universal Healthcare Law and in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas, as well as upgrading of facilities for COVID-19 response.
From the P2.83 billion total flagged, P2.44 billion was attributed to delayed completion/implementation of infrastructure projects.
“The infrastructure projects were unimplemented due to the following: (a) failed biddings due to non-participation of contractors to projects located at GIDA; (b) site issues due to non-ownership of lot, persistent change of locations and leadership, conflicting priorities at the LGUs; and (c) advent of natural calamities and COVID-19 pandemic,” the COA audit report stated.
Among the reasons cited for the delays included temporary work suspension, termination of project due to huge negative slippage, danger from falling debris, challenging road and safety conditions, delay in payment of delivery fees, delayed release of mobilization fund and payments for progress billing, and numerous suspension orders.
“The foregoing deficiencies affected the benefits that the public could have derived from the immediate and maximum use of the said facilities and the non-attainment of the program objectives,” COA said.
In response, the DOH agreed to require Head of HFEP Management Office to intensify monitoring of projects through regular and timely evaluation and inspection, monthly reports./PN
