(Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda listens to the concerns of a cancer-stricken constituent. Photo Courtesy of Jun Jaso/Pampanga PIO)
LUBAO, PAMPANGA – “Cancer patients are praying for the Pinedas. We want them to continue their care for the Kapampangans, their genuine service and good governance in the province.”
Thus, said Mary Grace Ilagan, in behalf of the 231 leukemia, breast, uterus, colon, cervical cancer patients who came the other day in this town to receive their monthly cash assistance of P5,000 with a total amount of P1,155,000 plus assorted groceries, ensure milk and one cavan of rice each from the personal funds of the Pinedas.
Ilagan, 29 years old, a resident of San Vicente, Sto Tomas disclosed that she suffers from chronic myelogenous leukemia since 2016. She started to receive assistance from the Pinedas in 2017.
“Nag start ako maggamot 2017 pa. Noong una, binigyan po kami ng P30,000 bawat isa. Pinambili ko ng gamot. Isang gamot P1,600. Six times akong umiinom ng gamot sa isang araw so nasa P10,000 a day. Kaya malaking tulong iyong suporta ni Nanay Gob at ni Vice Gov Delta Pineda, (I started taking medicines in 2017.
At fi rst, we were given P30,000 each. I used the fi nancial assistance to buy for my medicines. One medicine cost P1,600. I take medicine six times a day so, I consume P10, 000 a day),” Ilagan said.
Aside from the monthly assistance, Ilagan added that every year, they undergo a check-up at the National Kidney Center and the Pinedas are helping P15, 000 for their check-up to diagnose the percentage of their health conditions. “We are also receiving Cavan of rice each which is a big help for our family,” she said.
Ilagan thanked the governor and the vice governor for their wholehearted support to the sick, “Sana pu ibless sila para tuloy-tuloy iyong pagbless sa mga tao, sa mga patient na katulad namin (We are praying that they would be blessed so they could continue giving blessings to other people, especially to us),” Ilagan further said.
Vice Gov. Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda assured the cancer patients that the Pineda family will continue to attend medical needs especially for chemotherapy and other assistance beneficial to their health and their families.
The vice governor told the cancer patients to channel their request for assistance to the barangay officials especially to the barangay health workers (BHWs) and Nanay Community Workers (NCWs). He said the BHWs and NCWs were trained by the governor to assist the patients from their respective communities.