Bayan Muna filed House Resolution 1978 to probe irregularities in P8.1billion Barangay Health Stations pic.twitter.com/twJuzaNiel

— RG Cruz ABS-CBN News (@1rgcruz) July 3, 2018

MANILA - An opposition lawmaker on Tuesday urged the House of Representatives to look into reported irregularities in the P8.1-billion project to establish school-based barangay health stations under then-President Benigno Aquino's administration.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate in his resolution said 5,700 barangay health stations were supposed to be completed in two phases, as stipulated in the contract. But as of 2018, when the project was terminated, only 270 units have been completed.

Zarate also cited a "Failon Ngayon" report that showed some barangay health stations that were supposed to be completed were actually either unfinished or lacking the needed equipment.

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The lawmaker also raised questions on the budget used for the project that was awarded to J. Bros Construction under Aquino's term. He said the contract for the project was approved despite not having any budget in the General Appropriations Act in 2015.

He said a health official once explained that the funding came from the Budget Department's Special Allotment Release Order but no specific item, except for "regular agency fund," was mentioned in the document.

"The irregularities in the school-based BHS, similar to the Dengvaxia scandal, showed utter lack of concern and grave neglect of government for the health and welfare of the people, especially the poor," said Zarate.

A Commission on Audit report earlier said some barangay health stations were constructed in "ineligible and non-workable" project sites that were not fully validated.

But former Health Secretary Janette Garin earlier said health officials chose project sites by matching the Department of Education's list of public schools with a list of areas that lacked health clinics.--report from Robert Mano and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News