DAP funds used to buy PCMC land

Part 1: Is DOH shutting PCMC director out?

(Last of two parts)

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) used funds released through the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) to purchase a portion of land occupied by the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) in Quezon City.

In an interview with The STAR, PCMC director Julius Lecciones said PIDS, a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC), purchased last year from the National Housing Authority (NHA) a portion of the property that they occupy for P85 million.

The money came from the P100 million the GOCC received through DAP for their relocation, as shown in the list of DAP-identified projects recently released by Malacañang.

Last year, the PCMC said it was surprised when it received information that the NHA has sold to PIDS a 2,500-square meter portion of the 3.7-hectare property occupied by the hospital.

The sale came even as the NHA issued a notice to PCMC last year asking the hospital to pay more than P1 billion for the property it occupies.

Lecciones maintained that the portion of land sold to PIDS was not idle, contrary to claims by the NHA. He said it is the site of the hospital’s sewage treatment facility, its oxygen plant, and generation set.

“These are vital in the operations of the hospital,” Lecciones said.

The PCMC director said PIDS understood the issue and is willing to return the property provided that the P85 million that they paid to the NHA for the portion of the land.

Lecciones noted that the PCMC used to have 6.2 hectares of property, but portions were sold by the NHA to the Ombudsman and the Court of Tax Appeals.

“We’re okay with the remaining (3.7 hectares), that’s enough for (our modernization),” he said.

P280 M for hospital

In the list of DAP-funded projects released by Malacañang, it was noted that P280 million was released by the government for the PCMC.

“This project includes building renovation/retrofitting, the replacement of outmoded medical equipment and the expansion of facilities in order to save more patients,” read the description of the project.

The retrofitting started amid reports that the hospital is being considered for relocation to a portion of land in the property owned by the Lung Center of the Philippines.

In a press conference in June, PCMC deputy director for hospital support service Jara Corazon Ehera said the retrofitting would be a waste of money if the hospital would end up being relocated.

The PCMC is opposing plans for the transfer, saying what it needs is the title for the current property that they occupy.