Report Manila Allocates Additional Funds to Fix "White Elephant" Hospital Project

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The Manila local government has been compelled to allocate an additional ₱50 million to address construction flaws in the President Corazon C. Aquino General Hospital, a project that stalled under the previous administration. Situated in the Baseco Compound, the hospital failed to secure an operating license from the Department of Health (DOH) due to non-compliance with healthcare facility standards.

 

Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan expressed frustration over the project's status. "The groundbreaking for the Baseco Hospital occurred in 2021 under then-Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, but it remains unopened and unusable to the public because it wasn't built to standard," she said.

 

The project, initiated during a rush of infrastructure development projects in the lead-up to the 2022 presidential elections, overlooks long-term viability and regulations, according to Lacuna-Pangan. "The planning was flawed, and it failed because it was rushed during the height of the presidential election season," she stated.

 

 

 

This has resulted in the continuous need to redirect funds towards rectifying planning and construction issues, with the most recent allocation being ₱50 million. These additional expenses highlight the wastefulness of inadequate planning.

 

Mayor Lacuna-Pangan emphasized the importance of public funds benefiting the populace and not being squandered on poorly executed projects. "This hospital was meant to be a vital healthcare facility for the residents of Baseco. We are working diligently to rectify the issues so it can finally provide the free medical services it was intended for."

 

Despite these challenges, Lacuna-Pangan reassured the public of her administration's commitment to completing the hospital, ensuring it meets the necessary standards to provide essential healthcare services to the community as intended.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Manila Bulletin 2025-04-23

 

 

 

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