House donates P5.2M to PGH after hospital fire in May

House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco hands out the donation to PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi. (Also in the photo from left) Quezon 1st District Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, Deputy Speaker and Ilocos Sur 2nd District Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan, Deputy Speaker and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera, Palawan 1st District Rep. Franz Alvarez, and Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza. Photo from the House of Representatives

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Wednesday donated P5.2 million to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for the rehabilitation of its facilities that were damaged by a fire on May 16.

House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco handed over the donation to PGH director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi after a fire that lasted for almost five hours, damaged the Operating Room Sterilization Area last May 16.

The donation was raised through a fund drive initiated by Velasco among members of the House of Representatives.

No casualties were reported in the hospital fire but total damages to property including medical equipment were placed at P50 million.

The incident ignited calls for donors to help PGH, which has been serving thousands of indigent patients.

The state-owned hospital is also the country’s biggest COVID-19 referral hospital.

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JPV