The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital in Pampanga has fallen short of its mission to provide comprehensive medical services in its first year under the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), according to a recent Commission on Audit (COA) report. The hospital failed to utilize ₱292.5 million of its allocated budget for equipment, medicines, and supplies.
According to an Inquirer.net report, the COA flagged the DMW for its “inability to effectively manage budget consumption” and cited poor procurement and inventory systems as the main reasons behind the unutilized funds. Essential equipment such as a digital mammogram, X-ray machine, mechanical ventilators, and anesthesia machines were not procured, hampering the hospital’s services.
State auditors revealed that the hospital managed to serve 106,278 patients, mostly through laboratory tests. However, many diagnostic services worth ₱7.5 million were outsourced to nearby facilities, including Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital and St. Francis De Sales Diagnostic Center.
The COA emphasized the need for a dedicated bids and awards committee, streamlined procurement processes, and improved agreements with the provincial government of Pampanga to address these issues. The hospital management has agreed to implement recommendations, including creating a procurement plan and strengthening its inventory system.
The seven-story, 102-bed facility was established under Executive Order No. 154 in December 2021 and was transferred to the DMW in January 2023. Despite the setbacks, the late DMW Secretary Susan Ople had envisioned the hospital as the “gold standard” for addressing the medical needs of OFWs and their families.
