The PhilHealth Regional Office (PRO) XII recently turned over Php1,237,011.00 representing proceeds of “PhilHealth Run 2015: PhilHealth …Ready…TSeKaP…Go!” to Cotabato Bahay Maria Foundation, Inc. (Bahay Maria), a home for abandoned and sick elderly located at Anacleto Bador Sr. St., Poblacion II, Cotabato City.

In the turnover ceremony held at Bahay Maria, PRO XII Regional Vice President Dr. Miriam Grace G. Pamonag said the donation covered the cost of construction of an isolation building, repair of the residents’ quarters and purchase of vehicle. “The P1.237M went to this edifice (isolation building) and the vehicle yet to be procured so that in case of emergency, their patients can be easily brought to the hospital. We are also going to renovate the residents’ building to improve their living conditions.”

In addition, she said that PRO XII “will also be giving out groceries over and above the P1.237M.”

As record of donation, Bahay Maria Founder and Auxiliary Bishop of Cotabato Most Rev. Jose Colin M. Bagaforo, DD, Chairperson of the Board of Directors Rev. Fr. Benjamin Ariel P. Torreto, DCC and Administrator Jovita C. Isnani, MA received from PRO XII a Certificate of Donation made from steel sheet.

Isnani shared that “this has been our dream because every now and then we have residents with weak lungs and even the hospitals don’t accept them. So we just treat them here, place them in our clinic and isolate them. After treatment, we let them go back to the ward. We have been praying so hard for this isolation and the Lord is so good. Dito ko nakita, the promise of the Lord that He will be our Divine Provider.”

Bagaforo thanked PhilHealth for choosing Bahay Maria as one of the two (2) beneficiaries of the PhilHealth Run 2015. “Thank you very much. I am sure by that gesture of yours of partnering with us we will be able to serve better our less fortunate brothers and sisters in Bahay Maria.”

Pamonag assured Bahay Maria that “the partnership will not end here. I hope that your doors will be open for us always” and added that “after this, we will go to the DSWD because they also have Php1.237M.”

The turnover was also witnessed by other members of the Bahay Maria Board of Directors, management officers and staff, some benefactors and PRO XII officers and personnel comprising the different PhilHealth Run 2015 Committees and Sub-Committees (END) (Gloria Amor L. Sequito)