The disgraceful negligence of the Albay provincial government in the management of its hospital facilities is not just an administrative oversight but a criminal violation of public trust and the law. It is a scandal of monumental proportions that cries out for accountability and justice.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has once again done the public a great service by exposing the egregious mismanagement that has led to the tragic reality of four newly constructed hospital buildings, worth a staggering P198 million, standing idle and deteriorating even as the province’s existing hospitals are overwhelmed with patients. This is a textbook case of governmental incompetence, mismanagement, and blatant disregard for public welfare.

The specifics are damning. The three-level Hospital Building at Ziga Memorial District Hospital (ZMDH) in Tabaco City, costing P159.5 million, and the Charity Ward, Optical and Dental Clinic, and Health Workers’ Quarters at the Josefina Belmonte Duran Albay Provincial Hospital (JBDAPH) in Ligao City, collectively costing nearly P40 million, are all gathering dust instead of serving the medical needs of the people. These facilities, completed years ago, have been left to rot without being operationalized, while patients suffer in overcrowded, under-resourced existing hospitals.

This is not mere negligence; it is a flagrant violation of the Local Government Code, which mandates the proper management and utilization of public assets. The Albay government’s failure to ensure that these facilities are equipped and staffed for use is inexcusable and borders on the criminal. COA’s findings lay bare a pattern of gross incompetence and potential corruption that must be met with the full force of the law.

Adding insult to injury, other buildings at ZMDH, including an Infectious Disease Building, Employees’ Quarters, Chief of Hospital’s Quarters, and the hospital morgue, constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), lack basic amenities like electricity, rendering them useless. This is a grotesque mockery of public service, where taxpayers’ money is squandered while the most vulnerable are denied essential healthcare.

The COA, under the leadership of Chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba, deserves commendation for its meticulous auditing and for holding the Albay provincial government accountable. Their findings should serve as a catalyst for urgent legal and administrative action. It is imperative that those responsible for this debacle are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The people of Albay deserve more than apologies; they deserve justice and accountability.

The recommendations are clear and imperative:

1. Immediate operationalization of the idle hospital buildings. This includes ensuring they are fully equipped, staffed, and ready to serve the public.
2. A thorough investigation by an independent body to identify and prosecute those responsible for this gross mismanagement and potential corruption.
3. Implementation of stringent asset management protocols to prevent future occurrences of such negligence.
4. Regular audits and transparency measures to ensure public assets are utilized effectively and efficiently.

This is a critical juncture for the Albay provincial government. The choice is stark: continue down the path of negligence and corruption, or act decisively to restore public trust and fulfill their duty to serve the people. The health and lives of Albay’s citizens depend on it.