Marcos visits VMMC, donates P150M for procurement of new MRI machine

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday visited the Renal Dialysis Center of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City and donated PHP150 million for the procurement of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine.

VMMC’s dialysis center caters to over 200 patients composed of World War II veterans and retired military personnel and their dependents, providing service and medicines free of charge.

During his visit, the President toured the center and met with its staff, comprising nine doctors and 27 nurses.

“Excited for the new MRI at VMMC, ensuring the delivery of expert care for our veterans and their families!” Marcos said in a Facebook post shortly after the visit.

“With government support, we broaden access to vital treatments like Mr. Noel Terrible’s successful heart operation. We will also continue to support our nurses like Ms. Joy Gines, who once cared for my late grandmother, and now serves our veterans with steadfast devotion,” he added.

As to the President’s financial grant to the hospital, the Department of National Defense (DND) requested the PHP150 million funding for the procurement of a 1.5-Tesla MRI machine for the VMMC after its sole MRI machine acquired in 2011 became unserviceable last year.

The donation came from the President’s Social Fund, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

Established in 1955, the VMMC is primarily tasked to provide quality hospitalization, medical care, and treatment to Filipino war veterans and retired AFP personnel.

The VMMC visit is part of Marcos’ 82nd Day of Valor (Araw ng Kagitingan) activities, which include leading memorial ceremonies and turning over housing units in Bataan. (PNA)