The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office carries on with its mission of extending its services and products nationwide by opening a branch office on Romblon island last Thursday (February 4).
With other PCSO employees and officials, I traveled to the province and met with Gov. Eduardo Firmalo and his daughter Trina Firmalo, and turned over ambulances to eight municipalities of the province through outright donation.
The ambulance recipients were Concepcion, through Mayor Lemuel Cipriano; Ferrol, through Mayor Jovencio Mayor; Banton, through Mayor Jory Faderanga; San Andres, through Mayor Fernald Rovillos; Santa Fe, through Mayor Asher Visca; Looc, through Mayor Leila Arboleda; San Jose, through Mayor Ronnie Samson; and San Fernando, through Mayor Salem Tansingco.
Romblon Provincial Hospital chief Dr. Benedict Anatalio coordinated our visit and showed us around the new buildings of the hospital complex in Odiongan town, which were inaugurated by President Aquino on his visit to the province on January 9, 2015.
The hospital’s main building houses the new PCSO branch office and a PCSO warehouse for medicines and other supplies, both of which we inaugurated and blessed by Fr. Jose Falogme Jr. at a soft opening on the same day.
This is the agency’s 52nd
branch, from an initial 25 in 2010, the start of the Aquino administration.
Anatalio showed us a room in one of the new hospital buildings that will house a CT scan machine to be given to them by the Department of Health.
He also mentioned the island-province’s need for an oxygen generator, citing the time they were unable to receive supplies of oxygen for five days during Typhoon Nona in December 2015.
Firmalo pointed out that Romblon is a beautiful vacation paradise, a scenic spot off the beaten path, with miles of pristine white-sand beaches. Among the tourist spots we visited were the Aglicay Beach Resort, Looc Fish Sanctuary and its bamboo hut in the middle of the cove, and the marble souvenir shops in
Odiongan pier.
Among the provincial projects being developed, the governor said, are a provincial convention center, already constructed, and a livestock ranch that has breeding stock of pigs from the Department of Agriculture, cattle from Masbate, sheep and ostriches. The methane gas generated by the pigs is captured and used as fuel for cooking.
Another project that the governor and Provincial Board Member Felix Ylagan are proud of is the ongoing construction on the island of a branch of the Philippine Science High School. The school opens in June. It has boarding facilities because it is intended to accommodate students from all over the Mimaropa region.
Romblon is also a cultural heritage spot, and the place where one of the earliest textiles in Southeast Asia has been found.
As a physician, the governor advocates a healthy lifestyle and makes sure that plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits are served at every meal that he offers his guests. The good food, fresh air and quiet make Romblon ideal for retirees and those who want a peaceful lifestyle near the sea.
The PCSO is proud to be of service to the people of Romblon and the entire country, as it continues to perform its mandate of delivering medical-related assistance in line with the President’s policy on universal health care for
all Filipinos.
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Atty. Rojas is vice chairman and general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.