Photo from the Facebook page of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center
MANILA, Philippines — Children currently admitted at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) will not have to pay any bills this holiday season, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Thursday.
Romualdez made the announcement at the Paskong Tarabangan program at the PCMC — a Christmas party with sick children where medical assistance and other gifts were given.
He was accompanied by his wife, Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, who chairs the House committee on accounts, and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, who chairs the House committee on appropriations.
“I want to share some announcements. Cong. Zaldy [Co] said he would help here [at the PCMC]. So we will increase solar panels here for the electricity — for the children. So that you will not be bored in your rooms, we will donate television sets for your room, because sometimes patients are just staring at either the ceilings or the walls,” Romualdez said in Filipino.
“And I will also announce today, all of you will have zero billing, okay? So that is our Merry Christmas gift to you. You will not pay anything, okay? So we will coordinate this with our executive director so that we can help. We can give a slight reprieve regarding your expenses. So Merry Christmas to all. Happy New Year,” he added.
According to Romualdez, he prefers this kind of program.
“This is one of my favorite social events as a legislator where we spend time with children. It feels so good to actualize the phrase that Christmas is for the children because you can see genuine happiness during gatherings like this,” he said.
“Aside from our celebration for the children and their families today, we would also extend financial assistance for those confined at the PCMC and we will also visit the children’s ward to give gifts. We will make patients in PCMC feel the spirit of Christmas,” he added.
After the Christmas party, where 130 children patients of the PCMC participated, an Ako Bicol “People’s Day” was held, where guarantee letters for medical assistance were distributed. The lawmakers then went to the children’s ward for a gift-giving ceremony for other patients.
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Meanwhile, Rep. Yedda Romualdez said that lawmakers were doing this program because it would be hard for parents themselves to see children getting sick.
“There is nothing more pure and sincere than a child’s genuine happiness and Christmas spirit. I am very pleased to be a part of this event,” she said in Filipino.
“As a mother, I find it hard to see our children sick. I hope with our visit today we can bring hope and ease the pain encountered by our children. My prayer is that they heal soon,” she added.
Aside from the program, the three House leaders also visited the site of the Philippine Cancer Center, which is still being constructed on a 5,000-square meter lot inside the Blood Bank Complex, alongside the Mega Hemodialysis Legacy Building at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, in Quezon City.