The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) joined hands with the Philippine Christian Foundation (PCF) Inc., a charitable organization which aims to improve the quality of life of the poorest Filipino Communities, in bringing free medical services to over a thousand residents of Tondo, Manila last Sunday. The one-day mission held at the covered court of Barangay 105, Zone 8 Tondo, Manila, provided free consultations and medicine to 1,252 patients.

A total of 25 volunteer doctors from the Department of Health, East Ave. Medical Center, Philippine Children's Medical Center, National Kidney Transplant Institute, Lung Center and Heart Center of the Philippines, served the beneficiaries.

PAGCOR Director Eugene D. Manalastas said that under the new leadership of PAGCOR, the corporation will play an active role in helping provide basic social services to those in need especially the poorest of the poor.

"We have all the manpower and resources. We can travel to different parts of the country, especially to far-flung areas, and reach out to more communities, including the indigenous people," he said.

"We plan to organize medical missions in depressed areas of cities hosting PAGCOR branches as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility programs," he said. Manalastas added that PAGCOR may also expand its medical assistance by providing free surgical and eye mission.

Meanwhile Ma. Theresa Sarmiento, head of the Health and Nutrition Department of the PCF, expressed her gratitude to PAGCOR for its help.

"We are very thankful and glad that PAGCOR supported this mission. The people here are mostly scavengers; others have no source of income. They are in dire need of medical assistance since most of them cannot afford to buy medicines or avail of check-ups," she said.

On the other hand, Reynaldo Mercado, barangay executive officer also expressed his utmost gratitude to PAGCOR and PCF. "We are very lucky that we were chosen as beneficiary since our health center cannot accommodate all the medical needs of our people.

With the pressing situation of most of our residents, particularly those living near the dumpsite, we really need the aid of our government," he said.

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