DND gets Pagcor grant to allow quick military reaction in humanitarian missions

June 17, 2019

The Department of National Defense ( DND) received a P 400 million grant  from the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to allow the military to quickly respond to medical emergencies of its personnel  in humanitarian missions last week.

Arsenio Andolong, DND Public Affairs Service chief, said on behalf of  Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the grant was received by Assistant Secretary for Logistics and Acquisition Jesus Rey Avilla.

The turnover ceremomy was held at the Pagcor office in Malate last Thursday (June 13).

Andolong said "the Department of National Defense and Pagcor signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the funding of Deployable Forward Treatment Units on June 6, 2019, in Manila."

"The project aims to give immediate medical response, especially to military personnel and other casualties in the field during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response missions," he said.

"The Forward Treatment Units are expected to be deployed by the Philippine Army to priority and disaster-prone areas," he added.

Andolong said the funding for the procurement of Deployable Forward Treatment Unit was requested by the DND through assistance sought by the Philippine Army.

The Philippine Army sought assistance from the DND to facilitate the funding of Readily Deployable Forward Treatment Units," he said.

"The Department wrote a letter to the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Pagcor Andrea D. Domingo requesting to fund the procurement of the units," he added.

Andolong said "the proposed budget for each unit costs P 52,631,000, which includes medical equipment and facilities, such as mobile surgical trucks, medical care equipment, enhanced frame type tent-8 units, and other needed medical devices".

"The approved budget for eight units was P421,048,000," he added. Robina Asido/DMS