By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
MARIKINA CITY — The Marikina City local government has not wavered in its commitment to the Department of Health (DOH), through a letter in 2022, that it will shoulder the completion of the Concepcion Dos Super Health Center project since during that time the city had ample funds.
The certification from the Marikina local government in 2022, released by the DOH, was part of the standard documentary requirements of the Health Department for the establishment of the Super Health Center in Concepcion Dos.
However, the DOH was delayed in the release of the funds intended for the said project, according to the former mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro.
Former mayor Marcy said that the project was supposed to have been started in 2021, and completed by 2022.
But due to the DOH’s late download of the funds, it was only implemented in November 2023. The first phase completed in April 19, 2024, he stated.
But because of several factors—government transition, post-elections, and suspension of several city officials—the LGU was unable to adequately provide the massive funds to complete the health center, prompting the local government to request for additional funds from the DOH to complete the health center in 2024.
The former mayor reiterated that the P21.5-million fund from DOH is not enough to fully construct the four-storey building which is not just an ordinary facility as it will also cater to people with special needs, and the facility will also serve as a specialty facility.
It is also worth noting that the local government has multiple major health projects that were implemented during that period.
“Dahil hindi pa nga nasisimulan o tinatapos ang Concepcion Dos Super Health Center, nagtayo tayo ng Super Health Center sa Concepcion Uno, City Social Welfare building, multi-level Marikina Diagnostic Center, Multi-specialty Medical Arts Building, and Mega Dialysis Center,” former mayor Marcy said.
In fact, Marikina City is one of the first integration sites for the Universal Health Care (UHC).
The city was the first city to comply with the Primary Care Standards of the DOH, having 100 percent of its primary care facility accredited no less by the DOH—18 out of 18 facilities.
The city government has also fulfilled its promise to hire skilled doctors, nurses, and health workers to man its major health facilities.
“Pinagsisikapan nating magbigay ng serbisyong medikal para sa mga taga-Marikina,” he said.
In fact, on Wednesday, Oct 15, the local government of Marikina announced that it will complete the construction of the Concepcion Dos Super Health Center after the DOH failed to release funds for the succeeding phases of the project, as requested by the City Heath Office of Marikina.
In a letter sent to DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa dated Oct. 9, 2025, the city government has “decided to proceed with the construction and completion of the facility using locally-sourced funds or our own LGU funds.”
The Concepcion Dos Super Health Center is not a ghost project, he stressed—it was properly implemented and completed for its first phase, in full accordance with the scope of work and funding released by the DOH.
“Naniniwala ako na ang doctor naman ay hindi naniniwala sa manananggal,” former mayor Marcy said.
This misunderstanding could have been avoided through proper coordination and factual validation between the Department of Health in consultation with the Marikina city government.
“It’s a simple case of miscommunication that could have been avoided should the DOH conducted due diligence,” he said.
“Inaasahan lang sana natin magkaroon ng tamang koordinasyon at komunikasyon ang DOH at local government. Nabigla ang local government na may bigla na lang pumunta at wala namang nagsabi tungkol sa inspection at nagbigay pa ng pahayag na para bang may maling ginawa o ginagawa na nakakasira sa magandang partnership ng national at local government. Nawawala ang whole-of-government approach,” the former mayor added.
“Ang katotohonan ay hindi pinapa-vlog — ito ay dapat bine-verify, iniimbestigahan, at pinanagutan,” he added.
Former mayor Marcy said that before making public statements, especially about government projects, facts must first be reviewed, validated, and investigated.
“When officials speak, our words have consequences, we must be responsible enough to ensure that what we say is based on truth– not speculation, not social media noise.”
“Governance is built on coordination, prudence, and respect. Being a Cabinet Secretary and alter ego of the President, the Secretary of Health is expected to be circumspect, factual, and responsible in making public statements.” ###
