JV Ejercito: DOH should have final say on health facility projects under HFEP
September 05, 2026
Senate Committee on Finance Chairperson Senator JV Ejercito stressed that the Department of Health (DOH) should have the final say in identifying and prioritizing projects to be funded under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).
During the budget hearing of the DOH and its attached agencies and corporations on Friday, Sept. 4, Ejercito said legislators may recommend projects based on the needs lobbied to them by constituents in their respective areas. However, the final technical assessment and prioritization should remain with the health department.
“We can recommend, but the final verification, technical assessment, and prioritization should come from the DOH. Kayo ang experts dito. Hindi naman kami doktor o healthcare practitioners, kaya kayo ang dapat magsabi kung ano talaga ang kailangan at kung ano ang dapat unahin,” Ejercito said.
The lawmaker from San Juan said HFEP projects should be based on actual health needs, service gaps, and the readiness of the facility and local government to operate and sustain the project.
Improve local hospitals to decongest specialty centers
Ejercito also called for greater support for provincial and local government hospitals, noting that while DOH hospitals and specialty centers have improved, many of them are overwhelmed by the influx of patients from surrounding provinces who continue to seek treatment there.
He cited his visits to various hospitals, including specialty centers that have expanded their capabilities in areas such as open-heart surgery and kidney transplantation.
“We are slowly improving our specialty and apex hospitals. But we also have to improve our provincial and local hospitals so they can handle cases that can already be treated at the local level,” Ejercito said.
He noted that strengthening primary and secondary healthcare would allow specialty and apex hospitals to focus on more complex and serious cases.
“Hindi lahat kailangang dalhin sa apex hospitals. Kung kaya naman ng provincial or local hospital ang isang procedure, dapat magawa na roon. This will also help decongest our major hospitals and allow them to focus on more complicated diseases,” he added.
HFEP utilization
Ejercito also urged the DOH to improve the disbursement and utilization of HFEP funds. He warned them that low utilization could become a reason to reduce the program’s budget despite its contribution to improving health facilities.
“Saksi ako na marami nang health facilities ang talagang gumanda dahil sa HFEP. Kaya ayokong mabawasan ang program dahil lang mababa ang utilization. Kailangan nating ayusin ang disbursement at implementation para mas mabilis mapunta ang pondo sa mga pasilidad na nangangailangan,” he said.
Health Secretary Edwin Mercado said the DOH will also consider the capacity of LGUs to operate and sustain facilities, emphasizing that HFEP must be coordinated with local governments since many of the facilities will be operated by them.
Ejercito said that the Senate Finance Committee will continue to support HFEP, provided that projects are properly assessed; coordinated with LGUs; and aligned with the DOH’s health facility development plans.
“We will support and recommend, but the final say should be with the DOH. Ang importante, maayos ang paggamit ng HFEP at ang pondo ay mapunta sa mga health facilities na talagang kailangan ng ating mga kababayan.”
