Tuesday, November 13, 2007 P200 million released for mobile clinic, rice supply
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to release P100 million to set up mobile clinics and another P100 million to ensure that affordable rice is available to the poor during the holidays.
Arroyo gave the directive during the 13th Academic Meeting and Annual Convention of the Philippine Academy of Medical Specialists (Pams) at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City.
She said the funds for the mobile clinic would be in support of the medical outreach programs of the Pams, whose “Heal the Nation Now” project, which seeks physical, spiritual, and political healing, she is supporting.
The P100 million that Arroyo ordered Pagcor to release is on top of the P450 million budget of the agriculture department for ensuring that rice would be affordable to the needy during the holiday season.
Arroyo said people who have the means should help those in need especially during the holidays, and government is doing its best to serve as the catalyst.
“We can’t say that we have moved forward as a nation if we do not lift up the poor and hungry among us,” she said. (JMR/Sunnex)
