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A broader look at today’s business Sunday, May 19, 2024 Vol. 19 No. 215
Q
www.businessmirror.com.ph
P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 16 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK
HEALTH IS WEALTH:
IF YOU CAN ACCESS IT
EXTERIOR paint work
EXTERIOR paint work
I
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
T is inherent for Filipinos to endure any striking pain and prolonged symptoms or let a disease take over their lives rather than seek medical help.
Leading universal bank’s CSR arm goes to the frontlines, rehabilitating rural health centers and improving quality of life. “BDO Foundation decided to help rural health units [in the country] because we believe that it is one of the most important facilities in the community.”—BDO Foundation President Mario Deriquito
WAITING lounge for the elderly
As various issues surround healthcare in the Philippines, a key problem is the lack of access to primary healthcare services, particularly those living in rural communities where the nearest health center is hours away. How to reach the health center is another story. Rural health centers are health facilities at the forefront providing primary health services, such as first aid, immunization, consultation, dental services, and childbirth. However, due to lack of funding and support, these health centers tend to deteriorate over the years for prioritizing delivery of much-needed services rather than rehabilitation. One of the institutions that recognized the urgency of the problem is BDO Foundation (BDOF), the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, as it observed that the country’s rural health centers are in a “state of despair” that needs repairing.
EXTERIOR paint work
KIDS’ play area
180 and more
BDO Foundation recently reached a significant milestone for completing the rehabilitation of 180 rural health centers all over the country since its initiative began in
BEFORE REHABILITATION
AFTER REHABILITATION
2012 to enhance the healthcare delivery system in the country. This rehabilitation project will benefit over 8.6 million Filipinos who can now have better access to healthcare facilities. “BDO Foundation decided to help rural health units [in the country] because we believe that it is one of the most important facilities in the community,” BDOF President Mario Deriquito told the BusinessMirror. Broken down, BDOF has rehabilitated 60 health centers in Luzon, 90 in the Visayas, and 30 in Mindanao. For this year alone, BDOF has turned over 20 rehabilitated health centers as of April 2024 compared to a total of 29 centers for the whole 2023. The foundation aims to rehabilitate 50 more rural health centers by the end of the year or early next year, and then another batch for 2025. The rehabilitation mostly includes renovating the exteriors; reconfiguring layouts to allow more air and light inside; provision of Continued on A2
PESO EXCHANGE RATES Q US 57.3580 Q JAPAN 0.3692 Q UK 72.6841 Q HK 7.3531 Q CHINA 7.9444 Q SINGAPORE 42.6232 Q AUSTRALIA 38.2922 Q EU 62.3424 Q KOREA 0.0426 Q SAUDI ARABIA 15.2942 Source: BSP (May 17, 2024)