Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire (PNA file photo by Yancy Lim) MANILA-The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday assured the public all the processes entailed in its programs for cancer patients needing assistance are implemented with transparency. This, after Dr. Clarito Cairo Jr., DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau cancer control division program manager, disclosed that senior health officials allegedly conspired over the multimillion fund for the cancer program. "Everything was done in a transparent manner, hindi lamang po ang Kagawaran ng Kalusugan ang nagbigay ng desisyon at direksiyon dito, isinama natin at isinangguni natin ito sa ating mga eksperto (not only the Department of Health gave the direction and decision, we included and consulted the experts) at National Integrated Cancer Control Council," said DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a media briefing. The National Integrated Cancer Control Council is the highest policy-making body for cancer control nationwide. Cairo said he filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman where he noted that the Cancer and Supportive-Palliative Medicines Access Program (CSPMAP) funds were transferred to 20 specialized public hospitals instead of 31. The 20 hospitals included the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Center (PHP16.5 million); East Avenue Medical Center (PHP66.8 million); Philippine Children's Medical Center (PHP67.9 million); Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (PHP32.8 million); Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (PHP1.5 million); Region 1 Medical Center (PHP38.6 million); Cagayan Valley Medical Center (PHP45.1 million); D'Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (PHP5.3 million); Batangas Medical Center (PHP14.2 million); Bicol Medical Center (PHP12 million); Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (PHP84.7 million); Western Visayas Medical Center (PHP9.7 million); Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (PHP62.1 million); Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (PHP50 million); Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (PHP15 million); Zamboanga City Medical Center (PHP52.4 million); Northern Mindanao Medical Center (PHP85.4 million); Southern Philippines Medical Center (PHP76 million); Davao Regional Medical Center (PHP27.9 million); and the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (PHP44.8 million). On the other hand, Vergeire emphasized that the allocation of the funds was above board. "Hindi pa rin po natatanggap ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan nor ng mga accused itong complaint na sinasabi na ito (The DOH nor the accused have not received this complaint), all were spoken and stated in the media outings and social media platforms)," she said. "So, we will await for this complaint to be submitted to our office so we can respond appropriately in the right venue." (PNA) }