Concepcion cites funding gap for idle Super Health Center

ILOILO CITY — The municipal government of Concepcion, Iloilo, has attributed the non-operation of its Super Health Center to an initial budget it said was too small to deliver a functional facility, and it is counting on PHP 5 million in additional Department of Health (DOH) funding to finish the project.

The explanation is contained in the Commission on Audit’s (COA) 2025 audit report, which flagged the facility in Barangay Jamul-awon as incomplete and non-operational 14 months after its reported completion on Dec. 23, 2024.

The municipal engineer told auditors that the initial funding of PHP 10 million was insufficient to complete the structure as a functional facility, which conflicted with the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DOH.

COA records show that the DOH Center for Health Development-Western Visayas (DOH-6) transferred PHP 9.992 million for the project, all of which was used.

The municipal health officer told auditors that the building remained unusable because it had no electricity and lacked building components not covered by the initial funding.

Operations can begin only after the facility is fully completed, the health officer said.

PHP 5 million approved for Phase II

Municipal officials raised the shortfall with the DOH, and it was also discussed during a DOH seminar on the monitoring and update of Super Health Centers.

The DOH-6 director confirmed the problem during an actual validation of the site.

The DOH then approved the municipality’s request for an additional PHP 5 million to complete the facility under Phase II, which was confirmed during the audit exit conference.

Release of the first tranche, equivalent to 70% of the PHP 5 million, remained subject to documentary requirements at the time of the audit.

Among the requirements still being processed were the fund utilization report for the initial funding and a geohazard certification from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

The health officer told auditors that the DOH did not require the facility to be operational before granting the additional funding.

Mayor agrees to COA recommendations

The mayor agreed to direct the municipal health officer and other personnel to immediately complete and submit the required documents and to comply with the MOA.

The mayor also agreed to direct the municipal accountant, in coordination with the municipal treasurer, to refund PHP 100,027.30 in unused balances from three national government agencies.

The municipal accountant committed during the exit conference to return the money within the year.

As of August 2026, the local government had submitted all pending DOH requirements to secure the Phase II release.

On Oct. 19, the municipal Bids and Awards Committee announced the opening of bids for the Phase II construction.

 

Not an isolated case

The underfunding of Super Health Center construction is not isolated to Concepcion.

In Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, COA flagged a Super Health Center funded by a PHP 10 million DOH grant that remained an empty and unused structure long after it was reported complete on Oct. 12, 2024.

COA cited a significant discrepancy between the available grant and the actual cost of a functional facility, with the complete program of works estimated at PHP 16.1 million.

To fit the PHP 10 million grant, critical structural and finishing components were excluded from the original scope of work.

Nationwide, the DOH has funded about 878 Super Health Centers since 2021, the Philippine Star reported on Jan. 1, citing a DOH report to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.

Of these, 300 were non-operational, 365 were under construction, 17 were partially operational, and 196 were operational.