
HOUSE Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Rep. Leila M. de Lima filed a measure to investigate the cases of alleged misuse and abuse of public funds under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) and other programs of the Department of Health (DOH).
De Lima on Wednesday filed House Resolution (HR) No. 353 after the reported wastage of DOH funds and the possible corruption of government officials, public employees and private companies and individuals that resulted in “haunted hospitals”—abandoned, incomplete, or non-operational hospitals, health centers and similar facilities.
“Parami nang parami ang nabubunyag na kababalaghan sa DOH. Sa dami ng hindi nakumpleto o abandonadong hospital at health facilities, kayo ba ay Department of Health o Department of Haunted Hospitals?” De Lima asked.
“These issues of incompetence and irregularities are very alarming and frustrating, especially for the Filipino people who urgently need quality, accessible, and affordable medical services.”
“Mantakin nyo: May pondo para sa mga ospital at health centers, pero hindi naman nakukumpleto o hindi sadyang kinukumpleto; kung may maipatayo man, hindi naman operational at hinahayaang maging abandonado. Pagamutan yan para kanino—para sa mga multo?! Heto pa: May pondo para sa gamot, pero kulang-kulang o walang available na gamot sa mga public hospitals, ang dami pang nag-eexpire!” the Bicolana lawmaker further lamented.
During the House plenary deliberations on the proposed 2026 DOH budget, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno flagged that as of 2025, only 200 of the 600 health centers constructed under the HFEP were operational.
HR 353 also cited Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s revelation during the Senate deliberations on the agency’s 2026 proposed budget, referring to a 2024 Commission on Audit (COA) report which found that 123 projects worth ₱11.5 billion were not completed within their contract deadlines.
Moreover, during the House plenary debates on the DOH budget for next year, De Lima also expressed alarm over the insufficient supply—or complete lack—of medicines in public hospitals, as well as the questionable allocation of government-procured mental health medicines worth hundreds of millions, which are nearing expiration, a portion of which was reportedly delivered to the Rotary Club of Quezon City, but denied by a former official of the latter organization.
“Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang bilyon-bilyong pondong nasasayang para sa serbisyong pangkalusugan ng mga Pilipino. Napakarami nating mga kababayan ang takot na takot magpa-ospital hindi lang dahil sa kanilang sakit pero dahil sa laki ng kanilang babayaran. Napakarami nating mga kababayan ang hindi rin nakapagpapagamot dahil sa milya-milyang layo ng mga pagamutan, at kung makarating man, wala namang doktor, nurse, gamot, at mga kagamitan,” De Lima said.
“Ang masaklap pa: Napakarami nating mga kababayan ang namamatay nang hindi nakapagpacheck-up o nakapagpa-ospital, napakarami nating nababaon sa utang dahil sa pagkakasakit at lalong nalulubog sa pangamba kung saan kukuha ng pambayad sa ospital, tapos malalaman natin na bilyon-bilyong pondo ang matagal nang nasasayang. Napakalaking kawalan ng hustisya nito sa taumbayan, lalo na sa mga nangangailangan.”
“Hindi rin dapat palampasin ito. Dapat ding may managot sa anomalyang ito na pumapatay sa napakaraming Pilipino,” she added.
Last July, De Lima also filed HR 46 to probe the unpaid claims in several private hospitals which resulted in their decision to temporarily suspend accepting guarantee letters under the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) of the DOH.