Makati: Taguig rejected offers on transfer of health services

MANILA, Philippines — Taguig City officials have rejected proposals by the Makati City government to effect the “smooth transfer” of Makati’s health facilities and services, an official said yesterday.

Makati administrator Claro Certeza said several proposed memorandums of agreement (MOAs) were “outright rejected without a valid reason” by Taguig City officials.

According to Certeza, Makati Mayor Abby Binay, in a letter to Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, proposed an agreement regarding the transfer of healthcare services and facilities at Ospital ng Makati (OsMak).

In the proposed agreement, Makati offered Taguig a substantial credit line that would allow the affected residents caught in the territorial dispute to still access essential healthcare services at OsMak.

The credit line would enable Taguig to provide healthcare services to its residents without immediate upfront payments.

However, Certeza said Cayetano refused to even consider the proposal and opted to put off any discussions about OsMak.

In Cayetano’s reply, she said that Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa would take the lead in any discussion regarding OsMak, stating that both cities must defer to his wishes.

In another letter, Binay also offered Cayetano the option to lease or purchase the land of the eight health centers located in the barangays previously under Makati’s jurisdiction. These are health centers located in Barangays Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, Pembo, Pitogo, Rizal, South Cembo and West Rembo.

“Makati is willing to let Taguig use its properties without asking them for immediate payment. We are, in fact, deferring to COA to determine the reasonable amount to be charged,” Certeza said, referring to the Commission on Audit.

However, Cayetano also declined the offer, citing Herbosa’s directive to “exclude the issue of ownership in the transition process.”

Taguig also refused to accept Makati’s data-sharing proposal, intended to safeguard the personal data and information of previous and existing patients of the eight health centers involved in the territorial dispute.

Certeza alleged that Taguig is “hell-bent” on taking over Makati’s public facilities without due process.

In December 2021, the Supreme Court declared that the Taguig government owns the 10 enlisted men’s barrio or “embo” barangays previously under the jurisdiction of Makati.