A total of 1,524 residents from the 5th District of Manila recently received free healthcare services during the medical and dental mission conducted by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and its Casino Filipino Pavilion branch.

(Photo) Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim lets a health worker check his blood pressure when he visited the one-day community outreach program of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and its Casino Filipino Pavilion branch held at the San Andres Sports Complex, San Andres, Malate Manila. Also in photo are Councilor Josie Siscar of the 5th District of Manila and Casino Filipino Pavilion Branch Administrator and Finance Head Milagros Pauline Visque (2nd from right).


(Photo) A months-old baby gets checked up by a volunteer doctor during a recent medical and dental mission of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and its Casino Filipino Pavilion branch. The baby and her mother are among the 1,524 beneficiaries of the health mission held at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.


(Photo:) A child carries a pack of free medicines he received during the medical and dental mission conducted by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and its Casino Filipino Pavilion branch. The one-day mission which benefited 1,524 Manila residents, was held at the San Andres Sports Complex, Malate Manila in partnership with the office of Manila 5th District Councilor Josie Siscar.

The one-day joint community outreach program was held at the San Andres Gym Sports Complex, Malate, Manila in partnership with the office of Manila 5th District Councilor Josie M. Sicar.

The mission brings to over 13,000 the total number of beneficiaries of PAGCOR’s medical and dental missions nationwide since July 2010 under the new management of the state-run gaming firm. These missions are conducted in the poorest of the poor communities and calamity-stricken areas.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim lauded PAGCOR’s continuous effort to help the residents of Manila, especially in the provision of free health care to depressed communities in the city.

“We thank PAGCOR, through its Chairman Cristino Naguiat, Jr. for helping our people. Ang medical mission na ito ay malaking tulong dahil marami tayong mga kababayan na mahihirap…na walang pera…walang pambili ng gamot…walang pambayad sa doctor. Napakagandang programa ito ng PAGCOR na tumulong lalo na sa mga nangangailangan,” he said. Volunteer doctors from Ospital ng Maynila and Philippine General Hospital provided free medical consultation to 1,418 patients composed of adults, children, babies, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Dentists from the office of the City Mayor and CF Pavilion, meanwhile, gave free tooth extraction to 106 patients.

Angelito Co from Barangay 717 accompanied his 82-year old mother Avelina Co to avail of the free health check-up and medicines that were distributed during the event. Due to her old age, Avelina could no longer walk and see. Her asthma, lungs and heart ailments also worsen her condition.

“Marami pa syang ibang sakit. May mga reseta na binibigay ang doctor sa amin pero hindi naman namin kayang bilhin dahil wala kaming pera,” says Angelito, who is currently unemployed and only relies on the aid of his siblings.

Angelito said the free consultation and medicines they received will lessen the burden of his mother. “Nagpapasalamat talaga ako. At mabuti na may ganitong proyekto para sa mga katulad namin dahil marami ang matutulungan nito,” he said. According to Councilor Sicar, most of the residents in their community are either unemployed or are earning below minimum wage as pedicab drivers, vendors or carpenters.

Sicar added that although the city of Manila prioritizes education, health and sports in its annual budget allocation, it could not cater to all the needs of the constituents. Being one of the most populous areas in Manila, the 5th District is composed of 184 barangays with an estimated population of more than 300,000.

“We need government support to address some of the vital needs of our constituents. I thank PAGCOR for their immediate response and for providing assistance to our citizens for the second time.” The agency previously conducted a health service mission in the 5th District in November 2010.

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