Duterte ready to make donation to fire-hit PGH, says Roque

President Rodrigo Duterte will be ready to make a donation to the Philippine General Hospital, which was hit by a fire last Sunday, if PGH asks for it, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday.

Roque made the announcement during a briefing that included Dr. Gap Legaspi, the PGH Director.

“Doc, ang huling mensahe po galing sa ating Presidente: ask and you shall receive. Alam naman po ninyo dati-rati pa, kung ano ang kinakailangan ng PGH ay handang ibigay ng Presidente galing po sa kaniyang President Social Fund,” Roque said.

(The President said, ask and you shall receive. You know that the President is ready to provide what PGH needs through the President Social Fund.)

“Ulitin ko po, mag-designate lang po kayo ng representative,” he added.

(Just designate a representative.)

Roque said that he will visit the PGH, a COVID-19 referral hospital, today to provide meals and water to about a thousand frontliners.

Legaspi also said on Monday that it will take three to four months before the fire-hit areas of the hospital can resume its operations. 

Roque told Legaspi that rehabilitating the PGH is a priority for the national government.

“Top priority ng DPWH iyong pagri-repair ng mga na-damage sa PGH dahil nga po kinikilala natin na ang PGH talaga is the premier—not only the premier teaching hospital in the country but also importante po sa buhay ng mga mahihirap na Pilipino,” Roque said.

(Fixing the damage to PGH by the fire is the Department of Public Works and highways' priority because the PGH is a very important institution that takes care of the lives of the poor Filipinos.)

The fire broke out at the PGH’s operating room supply and autoclave room (ORSA) early Sunday morning. — BM, GMA News