Magalong, Palace clash over DoH raps

After pursuing the anomalous government infrastructure, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong now targets the health department, which he claims is also corruption-ridden.

Magalong criticized several alleged irregular practices within the Department of Health (DoH). The mayor claimed that “ghost projects” exist within the department and called for greater accountability in managing medical resources and infrastructure.

According to Magalong, there are persistent delays in the delivery of medical supplies from the DoH to the Baguio Local Government Unit (LGU). He further noted that a significant portion of the supplies received are nearing their expiration dates, which hampers the city’s ability to utilize them effectively.

The mayor also raised concerns regarding the procurement of medical equipment. He called for an investigation into suspected overpricing of specialized equipment, such as endoscopes and CT scanners, at DoH-managed facilities, including the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).

Magalong also criticized the slow progress of the hospital’s construction, alleging that the workmanship appears substandard. He said he is concerned about the welfare of both health workers and the general public, noting they are the most affected by these administrative issues.

Earlier, he refuted Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa’s statement regarding guarantee letters. The Secretary claimed that these letters are no longer required at DoH hospitals. Magalong clarified that the Baguio LGU continues to provide guarantee letters to BGHMC to ensure patient services.

Palace responds

Palace spokesperson Atty. Claire Castro responds to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong over his criticisms of the administration and the DoH.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Castro said she had listened to Magalong’s interview in which he called Herbosa a liar for saying that DoH hospitals, particularly about basic accommodations, do not rely on guarantee letters.

“Before someone calls another person a liar, they should first look in the mirror and ask themselves who is really lying,” she said in Filipino.

She added that Magalong should note that the implementation of guarantee letters will begin this year and should be aware of the timeline, given that many guarantee letters had previously been issued by the Baguio City government.

“If he thinks this is ‘epal’ or just showing off, why did he issue so many guarantee letters?” Castro said.

Castro stressed that guarantee letters are not intended for use by politicians. She noted that Magalong himself admitted that the guarantee letters were issued by the Baguio City government but were funded by senators, questioning which senators were providing the financial assistance and whether these were the same senators endorsed by Magalong during the elections.

Castro further explained what Herbosa meant when he said guarantee letters only work if there is a guarantor. She said that if the guarantor fails to pay, the guarantor will be held accountable.