By Ben Rosario
The Commission on Audit (COA) has called on the Department of Health (DOH) to take determined steps in addressing various irregularities in the implementation of the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), that included the construction of health stations in various schools with an P8.13 billion funding.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
COA, in its 2017 annual audit report for the DOH, revealed that the HFEP, envisioned by the past administration to revitalize primary health care facilities and other specialized health services, has been plagued with low funding utilization issues brought about by various irregularities uncovered by state auditors.
Auditors found audit issues in the implementation of the Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya (TseKaP), a program under the HFEP.
Aside from delays in the completion of health clinics and barangay health stations in schools, the awarding of the contracts for the implementation of the construction projects were questioned by auditors.
The TseKAP program called for the construction of 5,700 units of school-based barangay health stations financed with an P8.13 billion budget – a goal that “was not achieved,” COA said.
Auditors revealed that the two contract phases of the project were awarded in 2015 to the joint venture of J. Bros Construction with Fujian Shongma and the Construction Engineering Co. Ltd.
Inspections conducted by COA auditors indicated long delays in the completion of the projects blamed on the two contractors.