The local government of Marikina has pushed back against what it described as a misleading claim by the Department of Health (DOH) that the city’s super health center project in Barangay Concepcion Dos was among the so-called “ghost facilities” across the country.
The controversy stemmed from DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa’s inclusion of the Marikina project in a list of 297 incomplete or “ghost” super health centers.
During his visit, Herbosa noted that the area was still overgrown and only partially constructed, calling it a “manananggal” project — half-built and unfinished.
According to the Marikina City Government, the health center project in question was completed according to the scope of work funded by the DOH. The funds released by the agency, the LGU said, were intended only for Phase 1, which covered the site development, foundation, and initial steel structure.
The said phase, the city emphasized, was completed within the approved timeline and validated by the DOH’s own inspection team.
City officials further clarified that the construction could not proceed to subsequent phases because no additional funding had been provided by the DOH despite several formal requests and follow-ups from the local government.
The city government also stressed that the delay in completing the full four-storey super health center should not be attributed to the LGU, but to the national agency’s failure to release full project funding.
To ensure that the project moves forward, the Marikina LGU announced plans to allocate from its local fund to ensure the delivery of efficient healthcare to its citizens.
The city, likewise, reminded the health department that several DOH-managed facilities in Marikina — including the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center — stand on properties owned and freely provided by the city government, underscoring its long-standing cooperation with the agency.
In a formal statement, the local government reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and genuine public service, saying it remains focused on delivering accessible and quality healthcare for Marikeños despite limited national support.
