President Benigno S. Aquino III joined the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in the turnover of P4.515 million financial aid to three Philippine Army hospitals during the 18th day of the “Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2011: 25 Days of Christmas, 25 Years of PAGCOR” event held at the Army General Hospital in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig on December 12.

PAGCOR’s financial assistance will be used to purchase an Ultrasound Machine for the Kuta Major Cesar Sang-an Station Hospital in Zamboaga del Sur; a Defibrillator and Portable Respirator with Battery for the Camp Siongco Station Hospital in Maguindanao; and an accelerated Photoplethy Synograph Heart Rate machine for the Army General Hospital in Fort Bonifacio.

Apart from the financial aid given to the three Army Hospitals, President Aquino also personally handed Christmas gift packs to 150 of the soldier-patients confined at the Army General Hospital.

Major General Emmanuel Bautista, Commanding General of the Philippine Army, said PAGCOR’s decision to make the three Philippine Army hospitals part of its Pamaskong Handog project this year will further boost the morale of Filipino soldiers, especially the casualties of battle field encounters.

“It is through activities like these that we show genuine concern for the soldiers. What makes the event more meaningful is the presence of our Commander-in-Chief who took time out of his busy schedule to recognize the sacrifices of our heroic comrades. We also thank PAGCOR for helping improve the morale and welfare of our soldiers,” Bautista said.

The gift-giving event was also graced by Secretary Voltaire Gazmin of the Department of National Defense and new AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa.

According to Army General Hospital Commanding Officer Col. Mariano Mejia, the new hospital equipment that will be purchased using PAGCOR’s financial aid will greatly improve the delivery of health services for Philippine Army personnel.

Mejia added that the equipment intended for the two army station hospitals in Mindanao will help their health service providers in the region in efficiently responding to emergency cases. “Sa station hospitals kasi unang dinadala ang mga battle casualties, mga sundalong nagkaroon ng vehicular accidents at mga dependents ng military personnel na nasa malalayong probinsya. Meron naman kaming mga gamit pero luma na at kailangan ng palitan ‘yung iba,” he explained.

On the other hand, the Army General Hospital is a secondary level hospital offering ambulatory and ancillary services to military personnel and their dependents, as well as civilian employees of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). It has 10 division hospitals in various parts of the country handling emergency cases in the field. “Nagagalak kami dahil naalala kami ng PAGCOR ngayong Pasko. Pinataas ninyo ang morale ng aming mga pasyente,” Mejia said.

According to PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat Jr., the state-run gaming firm has been strictly adhering to President Aquino’s Matuwid na Daan campaign through the prudent use of resources. “Our cost-saving and cost-efficient measures enabled PAGCOR to allocate funds for more significant government projects and high-impact Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects like our Pamaskong Handog gift-giving program.”

“Dahil sa tamang paggastos, ang PAGCOR ay mayroong malaking savings na nailalaan para sa mga makabuluhang proyekto ng ating pamahalaan katulad ng P1 billion funding para sa construction ng 1,000 classrooms sa buong kapuluan,” Naguiat shared.

The PAGCOR Chief added that its Pamaskong Handog project this year coincides with the state-owned gaming agency’s 25th year. “Instead of spending for a lavish party to celebrate PAGCOR’s silver anniversary, we decided to allot a P25-million budget for a gift-giving project that would reach out to the less privileged sectors of our society for 25 days.”

The nationwide gift-giving project of PAGCOR has more than 7,000 beneficiaries in 36 charitable institutions nationwide. Its implementation began last November 25 and ends on December 19. Among the recipients are children and adult cancer patients coming from poor families, handicapped, abandoned elderly and children, cultural minorities like Aetas, sick and wounded policemen and soldiers.

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