THE Department of Health in Cordillera clarified the region has not completed construction of any Barangay Health Stations (BHS) out of the allotted 127.
According to DOH-Cordillera, from the 127 BHS, Mountain Province recorded the highest number with 32 while Abra has 13, Apayao with 16, Benguet with 25, Ifugao with 17, and Kalinga with 23.
“Out of 127 BHS, 62 has not yet started while 65 has yet to be completed,” said DOH-Cordillera assistant regional director Amelita Pangilinan.
Pangilinan added the idea of the project was to have school-based barangay health station on available lots with the health agency putting up the structure that will serve as health clinic for the community.
“It was noble and that for the one barangay, one BHS to be fulfilled,” she said.
Pangilinan however, said the specific dimensions of the BHS was not properly followed which the central office terminated the project in Cordillera this year.
“We went to coordinate with school’s supervisors of DepEd and no space was available in the city,” said Pangilinan adding huge materials are hard to transport to the remote school areas in the region.
On June 18, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III revealed some P8.1 billion for the BHS project in 2016 but no sites were validated.
The health agency paid P1.2 billion to J-Bros Construction Corporation as the project contractor.
The project which was implemented under the watch of former Health Secretary Janette Garin indicate 5,700 rural health units to be established and ensure different barangays an access to primary health care.
Duque in a letter said J-Bros informed the agency of a termination contract and a billing of about P2.9 billion for about 429 health sites which the construction company claimed as complete.
However, the task force created in April 2018 shows only about 270 BHS were completed.
Pangilinan said the completed projects were concentrated in region two and three.
Engineer Jonathan Libatique, in-charge of the BHS projects in the region presented photographs of the current state of the terminated projects as some were turned into makeshift stage.