Makati, Taguig clash on transfer of health facilities, data

The local government of Makati City said Taguig City had allegedly rejected the proposed deals on the transfer of data, services and health facilities in the areas affected by the Supreme Court (SC) decision on the territorial dispute between the cities.

In a press release, Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza said the proposed memorandums of agreement pertain to eight barangay health centers as well as the health data of their patients, and the Ospital ng Makati.

“We have initiated a series of correspondence and MOA proposals to the City of Taguig aimed to facilitate the smooth transfer of Makati-owned health facilities to its jurisdiction. However, these have been rejected outright, without valid reason," Certeza said.

"Unfortunately, Taguig seems adamant about taking over our hospital and health centers without acknowledging our ownership rights,” Certeza added.

Certeza said through a letter, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay proposed to Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano a MOA for Ospital ng Makati (OsMak), which contains an offer extending a substantial credit line to Taguig.

He said the credit line is intended to ensure that affected residents could continue to access the essential health care services at the city-owned and -managed hospital.

Certeza also explained that the credit line shall “function as a financial safety net, enabling Taguig City to provide essential health care services to its residents without immediate upfront payments, particularly in cases where beneficiaries may not have the means to cover their medical costs themselves.”

“Makati is even willing to allocate millions in funding for this credit line to Taguig to avoid any disruption in health care services,” Certeza said.

In response, the local government of Taguig City said the proposed memorandums of agreement are “anchored on the false premise that they (Makati) own the land and the health centers built thereon.”

Taguig City said the “unwavering stance” that the land and facilities built thereon “unequivocally remain firmly under the purview of the City Government of Makati” shamelessly violates the agreement with the Department of Health for both Makati and Taguig not to take up ownership claims of the land and buildings while the transition discussions are on-going.

Aside from that, Certeza said Makati City had also offered Taguig the option to lease or to purchase the land and improvement of eight health centers, subject to the appraisal of the Commission on Audit (COA).

He claimed Cayetano declined the offer.

Taguig City also argued that if Makati was sincere, it should have already rejected the DOH’s plea that the issue of ownership should be set aside at this point of the transition.

“Makati took DOH and Taguig for a ride as Makati had no intention all along to negotiate unless Taguig yields first to Makati’s baseless claim of ownership,” Taguig City said.

Taguig City also maintained that it has far superior legal claim to the ownership of the land and the improvements thereon.

“Makati has no title to the lots, and indeed has not shown the public the titles that should support its claim,” it said.

In June, the SC rejected the Makati City government's motion asking the high court to allow it to file a second motion for reconsideration over its territorial dispute with Taguig City.

This is in connection with a 2021 Supreme Court decision declaring that the Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation, consisting of parcels 3 and 4, psu-2031, and the 10 barangays, are part of the territory of Taguig City. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK/AOL, GMA Integrated News