Inquirer
‘Haunted hospitals’: House minority lawmakers seek probe into DOH’s HFEP
House Deputy Minority Leader and ML Representative Leila de Lima filed House Resolution 353 calling for a congressional inquiry into non-operational health centers and the alleged misuse of public funds under the Department of Health's Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).
She highlighted the need to address the "many factual and legal issues" surrounding the alleged misuse of DOH funds, warning of potential corruption involving government officials, public employees, and private entities.
The liberal/social progressive bloc, including Akbayan party-list representatives, also filed a separate resolution, HR 351, with a similar objective.
During the plenary deliberations for the DOH's 2026 budget, it was revealed that only 200 out of 600 special health centers under the HFEP were functional.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa himself characterized the agency's troubles with HFEP as their "flood control version."
De Lima likened these facilities to "haunted hospitals-abandoned, incomplete, or nonoperational hospitals, health centers, and similar facilities."
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