LA TRINIDAD, Benguet– Governor Melchor Diclas thanked the “angels in red wings” for their donation to the Benguet General Hospital(BeGH) assuring that this will go a long way in helping the people of the province especially in their health needs.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) employees have donated P4,035,000.00 to BeGH as support in the fight against the COVID-19 in the province.
DSWD Undersecretary for General Administration and Support Services Jose Ernesto Gaviola representing DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista, and DSWD Cordillera Regional Director Leo Quintilla turned over the check to Gov. Diclas and BeGH Medical Chief Dr. Meliarazon Dulay in a simple ceremony at the DSWD-CAR Training Center in Baguio City on Tuesday.
Gaviola said the donation came from voluntary contributions of the more than 25,000 officials and employees of the DSWD in the central and regional field offices to provide support to their chosen beneficiary during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bautista, in the message delivered by Gaviola, said the donation is a symbol of the collective efforts and bayanihan spirit among DSWD workers and a sign of their gratefulness to medical frontliners who are battling the pandemic.
“Helping the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized is not only our duty, but also our purpose. DSWD is one in giving premium to the work extended and sacrifices made by public servants, such as all of you here, all the more during this challenging time,” Bautista stated.
Gaviola said that DSWD conducted a survey in the central office and field offices and coordinated with the DOH to determine public hospitals with the most number of COVID-19 patients but the least available fund.
BeGH, the only hospital in the province that treats COVID-19 patients, was chosen as the recipient. The BeGH already catered to more than 20 COVID-19 patients. As of June 18, at least 18 COVID-19 patients are confined at the said hospital.
“Maraming maraming salamat po dito sa sakripisyo ng mga empleyado ng DSWD. Alam natin na this is a sacrifice. Sweldo nila ang pinanggalingan. Malaking tulong po ito sa Benguet General Hospital natin. Ito yung gagamitin natin for our COVID-19 patients. Thank you very much. Papahalagahan po natin ito.” Diclas said.
He said the amount will be used to buy an ambulance that will service the patients of Benguet, and for the supplies needed by the frontliners and patients in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the province.
Dulay likewise thanked the DSWD for choosing their hospital as the recipient of their donation.
It’s an honor for Benguet General Hospital to be chosen as recipient of the DSWD COVID-19 donation from your employees, our angels in red vest, she said. Dulay added that the DSWD has been a longtime partner of the hospital in giving assistance to their clients. **(JDP/RMC- PIA CAR
