Medical Center Chief Dr. Huberto Lapuz of Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (4th from left) receives the check worth P13.27 million from PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo (3rd from left). The amount will be used for the procurement of Electro-Mechanical Operating Room Tables with special accessories for the hospital’s Urology Department and Kidney Transplant Donor Section.
Also in photo are (from left) Director Gabriel Claudio, President and COO Alfredo Lim and Director Jimmy Bondoc.
PAGCOR releases P13M for a kidney transplant center; P2.5M for PNP patrol jeeps
THE first kidney transplant center in Cabanatuan City will finally come into fruition after the Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (DPJGMRMC) received P13.27 million grant from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) on March 11, 2022.
Chairman and CEO Andrea D. Domingo, along with the members of the PAGCOR Board lead the turnover of grant to the DPJGMRMC for the procurement of Electro-Mechanical Operating Room Tables with special accessories for the hospital’s Urology Department (₱4.42 million) and the Kidney Transplant Donor Section (₱8.85 million).
Medical Center Chief Dr. Huberto Lapuz said they have planned the establishment of the kidney transplant center three years ago, but plans were stalled due to lack of budget, among other challenges experienced by the hospital as a result of the pandemic.
Lapuz shared that once established, the kidney center in DPJGMRMC will not only cater to residents of Cabanatuan but also to patients in Central Luzon and neighboring provinces like Aurora, Bulacan, Tarlac and Nueva Viscaya.
“We are very fortunate that our hospital became the recipient of PAGCOR’s donation. Malaking tulong na ma-establish namin ito dahil wala namang transplant center dito na malapit. Ang mga pasyente pumupunta pa sa Manila para magpagamot sa National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI). Once built, this will truly help many patients. Dito na sila ooperahan,” Lapuz said.
Apart from the kidney transplant center, DPJGMRMC is upgrading its capacity from 400 to 1,000 beds. They will likewise establish a heart center. “Hopefully this year or next year, our plans for the hospital will all materialize. We would like to thank PAGCOR for providing financial assistance for our kidney transplant center,” Lapuz added.
Meanwhile, PAGCOR also donated P2.5 million to the Philippine National Police – Aviation Security Group (PNP-AVSEGROUP). The amount will be utilized for the procurement of two patrol jeeps (single cab).
“The two vehicles that will be procured will be used in our mobility assets so we will be more effective in managing police operations. With this additional mobility, we can deliver better performance. It will be a big asset because we will be more effective,” PNP-AVS Director Police Brigadier General Ysmael Salonga Yu said.
AVSEGROUP is a unit that covers the safety and security of all the airports in the country.
