Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Mindanao gets bulk of SM financial aid
MINDANAO received the biggest share from the P1 million-grant extended by SM Investments Corporation to depressed provinces all over the country.
During the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) manager Marilyn Moncada said some P392,000 was allotted for Mindanao and this will be apportioned to six provinces in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao and Sarangani.
Visayas and Luzon equally got P300,000 each for the purchase of educational facilities like computers and others and the rehabilitation of affected areas in the Bicol Region damaged by typhoon Reming.
In Mindanao, the fund will be used to address the problem of lack of vaccine containment for immunization campaigns in some of Mindanao's depressed areas.
The SM Investment Corp. turned over cold chain facilities and coolers for communities needing health services in Mindanao.
The SM Cold Chain Facilities for Municipal Health Units (MHUs) is a project that supports health initiatives in depressed areas by providing storage for vaccines to be used in the immunization of children in the provinces of Armm and Sarangani.
Present in Monday's turnover ceremony were: Sarangani Province Governor Miguel A. Dominguez; Mayor Abdulkarim T. Langkuno of Paglas town in Maguindanao; Rogelio Martinez, Provincial Board (PB) member and PBSP Mindanao coordinator and executive director of C. Alcantara Foundation, Inc.; and Debby A. Go, manager, SM City Mall of Davao.
The project, implemented in partnership with the PBSP and local government units, hopes to benefit at least 1,400 infants in seven of Mindanao's peace and development areas.Moncada said infant mortality can be prevented through regular immunization and proper health care; hence, the need for proper storage of vaccines and medicines to maintain their potency and effectiveness.
SM Investment Corp. provides 28 brand new refrigerators and 56 coolers to address the health-related concern affecting MHUs in the Armm and Sarangani.
