At least 500 Palaweños received medical assistance from the Office of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano in an unprecedented caravan that covered four hospitals across the province early this week.
On June 26, Cayetano’s team set up medical assistance desks at the Ospital ng Palawan in Puerto Princesa City and Aborlan Medicare Hospital in Aborlan.
The next day, June 27, they went to Northern Palawan Provincial Hospital in Taytay and to El Nido Community Hospital in El Nido to cater to hundreds of locals who live in the northern part of the province in need of medical care.
Cayetano’s team also distributed hundreds of meals to patients waiting for their turn to get assistance, most of them admitted in the pediatric, non-COVID-19, and even in the isolation wards.
Among them was Brenda Bermas, a mother from Barangay San Miguel in Puerto Princesa City whose son was recently discharged from Ospital ng Palawan due to a car accident. With the help she’s getting for her son’s balance hospital bill and other medical assistance, she thanked God for using Cayetano’s medical assistance program as a channel of blessing to their family.
“Sobrang thankful na unexpected ang mabilis na pag process ng bills namin. Hindi ko po maexplain yung saya na nararamdaman ko. Malaking tulong po ito. Gagamitin po namin ito para sa bills at bibilhin na mga gamot. At the same time, may check up po sa heart niya,” Bermas said.
“Na-amaze po ako sa ginawa ni Lord ngayon. Itinataas ko po si Lord sa buhay naming pamilya kasi Siya talaga ang kumilos sa araw na ito. Thank you rin po sa mga taong ginamit Niyo, tulad ni Senador Alan Peter at Senador Pia Cayetano sa araw na ito,” she added.
Another claimant from Ospital ng Palawan is Jackelyn Luyas, who had requested assistance for her sister who is battling diabetes and psoriasis.
“Gagamitin ko po ito para madagdagan ang pang bayad sa bill ng ate ko na naka-admit. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa programa nina Senador Alan Peter at Pia Cayetano. Thank you po,” she said.
On day 2 of the medical caravan, Anna Marie Bellica, whose sibling is admitted at the Northern Palawan Provincial Hospital due to swollen stomach and cyst, expressed gratitude for the medical assistance.
“Kakamatay lang po kasi ng mother namin, tapos ito po, financial problema na naman. Pinagpapray ko po talaga na gumaling na ang kapatid ko… Mas maganda po itong ganito. Sana po tuloy-tuloy ang pagtulong ni Senator Cayetano sa mga mahihirap,” she said.
She also expressed thanks for the additional medical assistance she received for her sibling who will be transferred to Ospital ng Palawan in Puerto Princesa City due to a medical procedure that is not available in Taytay.
“Lilipat po kami ng ospital sa Puerto Princesa City, at ngayon binigyan po kami ng pangalawang medical assistance galing kay Senador Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano. Thank you din po kay (Palawan First District) Congressman Egay Salvame sa tulong na ito,” she said.
Most of the patients received help with their hospital bills, medicines, laboratory tests, and medical procedures. They were mostly battling dengue, diabetes, respiratory disease, liver disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, cancer, complications with childbirth, and even dental problems.
The medical assistance desks were done in coordination with Dr. Mario S. Baquilod, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Regional Director of the Department of Health Center for Health Development (DOH CHD) Region 4B.
This was also done in partnership with Ospital ng Palawan Medical Chief Dr. Melecio N. Dy, Aborlan Medicare Hospital Chief of Hospital Dr. Stenely Manuel, Northern Palawan Provincial Hospital Chief of Hospital Dr. Juvelito Ang, and El Nido Community Hospital Chief of Hospital Dr. Robert Angelo Arrieta.
The medical caravan was done in coordination with Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron and Palawan First District Rep. Edgardo “Egay” Salvame.
