THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) received on Monday, December 18, a cash donation of P102 million from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for the upgrade of medical equipment in military facilities, particularly in Mindanao.
The donation was received by AFP vice chief-of-staff Lieutenant General Salvador Melchor Mison in a simple ceremony held in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Mison and PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan and PCSO charity department manager Rubin Magno signed the memorandum of agreement on the PCSO’s cash donation.
Balutan said eight AFP medical facilities will benefit from their donation which is part of President Rodrigo’s order to help the AFP improve their facilities for the soldiers.
“Ito ay para sa immediate care ng kasundaluhan lalo na sa Mindanao area. Nahihirapan sila kasi kulang ang facilities ng Armed Forces,” Balutan said in an interview with reporters.
“Bago dalhin sa Manila for higher medical care eh ini-i-stable muna dun. Ang maganda sana yung ospital eh equipped agad ng gagamitin at dun na magpagaling para makabalik agad sa frontlines,” he added.
Balutan said they are planning to extend such help to the AFP annually.
“Next year may programa uli. We will ask them kung ano ang priority facilities na bibigyan nila ng program,” he said. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)