Davao del Norte: The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO) is set to download P30 million calamity assistance fund to Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) based in the City of Tagum, this province.
DRMC center chief, Dr. Bryan Dalid and PCSO Davao del Norte Branch Manager Virgilio Enrique Abanilla this morning penned the memorandum of agreement (MOA), specifying the use of the fund intended for “direct assistance to COVID-19 patients”.
“This financial assistance of PCSO specifically for DRMC is intended for the purchase and acquisition of testing kits re-agents, medicine, laboratory and diagnostic test (kits), direct to patient assistance, and PPEs (protective personal equipment) for our front-liners,” Abanilla said in an interview after the MOA signing done at the office of the Medical Center Chief.
Abanilla further explained that this particular PCSO assistance “is pursuant to the mandate of PCSO in response to calls of our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for the Bayanihan Heal as One Act or RA (Republic Act) 11469”.
Abanilla further said that PCSO Chairman Anselmo Simeon Pinili and PCSO General Manager Royina Garma had given weight to DRMC’s interregional role of providing medical care to patients.
“Alam na man natin na yong mga pasyente natin ay galing sa ibang probinsya kahit; na malayo, dito rin ang punta sa DRMC because of the facilities and personnel. Because of that bulk, kaya po medyo substantial din po yong amount inallocate ng PCSO for DRMC. (We are aware that patients here are coming from other provinces; though far but they are coming over because of the facilities and personnel. Because of that bulk, the PCSO has given due substantial allocation for DRMC),” he told PIA.
Meawhile, Dr. Dalid viewed the PCSO calamity assistance as crucial to beef up resources of the medical center to take care of COVID-19 patients, and to provide for the protection needs of front-liners to shield them infection.
As of last month , DRMC expenses for COVID-19 concerns already ran to about P20 million, Dr. Dalid said.
“So it is very timely that the PCSO has recognized that we need help in terms of PPEs, re-agents, test kits and medicines for COVID patients,” he said referring to suspect, probable and positive COVID-019.
DRMC is one of the only two medical centers in Davao Region handling COVID-19 patients from public and private hospitals. It is receiving patients from Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro among other adjacent provinces outside of Davao region.
Dr. Dalid said that the PCSO calamity fund for COVID-19 “is over and above the assistance that PCSO has been extending to DRMC.”
PCSO forms part of the Malasakit Center one-stop medical assistance center lodged at DRMC. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)