Taguig slams Makati for closing health centers in EMBO barangays

The local government of Taguig on Wednesday slammed Makati City over its decision to close the health and lying-in centers in the 10 EMBO barangays due to expired license to operate.

In a press statement, Taguig City said the claim of Makati City was deceptive, noting that a license to operate is not needed in health centers. 

''Isa itong panlilinlang at panloloko. Hindi kailangan ng license to operate (LTO) ng mga health centers maliban na lamang kung ito ay isang registered primary care facility. Iisa lamang ang registered primary care facility sa EMBO, ang Pitogo Health Center, na may lisensyang 3 taon na may bisa pa. Kaya’t lahat ng health centers sa EMBO ay maaring magpatuloy ng operasyon kung gustong magbigay ng serbisyo,'' Taguig City said. 

(This is a form of deception. A license to operate is not needed by health centers except if they are registered as primary care facilities. There's only one registered primary care facility in the EMBO, the Pitogo Health Center, which has a valid license for three more years. All health centers in EMBO can still continue their operations.)

Makati City also earlier said the yellow cards of the residents of 10 EMBO (Enlisted Men's Barrio) barangays are no longer valid pursuant a Supreme Court decision declaring them as part of the territory of Taguig.

The 10 EMBO barangays are Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, Pembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, Rizal, South Cembo, and West Rembo.

Taguig City claimed that it was the plan of Makati City to withhold health services and benefits from EMBO residents.

“Ang totoo, pakana ng Makati na ipagkait sa mga residente ng EMBO ang pasilidad at serbisyo ng health centers at lying in clinic sa EMBO bunsod ng baluktot nitong hangarin na gipitin ang Taguig matapos ideklara ng Korte Suprema na ilegal ang pag-ukupa nila sa mga EMBO barangays,” it said. 

(The truth, it is the plan of Makati City to withhold the facilities and services of health centers and clinics from EMBO residents as it wants to challenge Taguig City following the Supreme Court's decision on EMBO barangays.)

In response, Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza said Taguig was well aware that the health centers in EMBO barangays will close even before it was announced.

He added that Taguig also know that health centers need a license to operate as it was reminded to them by the DOH-Metro Manila Center for Health Development in a letter dated November 21, 2023.

He further said that a license is needed for health centers which provide diagnostic services aside from consultation just like the ones in EMBO barangays.

"From the start, Taguig has flatly refused all proposals coming from Makati to ensure uninterrupted access to health services in the EMBO barangays. Taguig refused to enter into a MOA with Makati regarding the properties owned and managed by the city. It also refused to enter into a data sharing agreement," Certeza said.

Yellow card patients at the Ospital ng Makati with a total hospital bill amounting to P5,000 or less were not charged.

Those with hospital bills exceeding P5,000, meanwhile, were only charged a uniform rate of P500, even if the amount reached six or seven digits.

Cardholders were also given access to free medicines, including maintenance medicines for hypertension, diabetes, and other diseases.

With the health and lying-in centers closed, Taguig offered teleconsultations to affected residents. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, to provide free medical check up and referral, prescription, and laboratory requests.

The telemedicine numbers were posted on the Facebook page of Taguig.

—Anna Felicia Bajo/AOL, GMA Integrated News