Malacañang on Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte could use his presidential social fund (PSF) to help repair the fire-hit Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
In a Palace briefing with PGH Director Gap Legaspi, Duterte spokesman Harry Roque said the president was always willing to help the PGH.
“Doc Legaspi, kung anong kailangan ninyo, sabihin ninyo lang because dati na siyang nag-offer nang mas malaking halaga. So kung anong kinakailangan po ngayon para ma-repair ang mga damage ay puwede pong i-tap iyong PSF dahil iyan po ay dati na pong in-offer sa PGH,” Roque said.
The spokesman said Duterte previously gave PGH P100 million in assistance from the PSF to finance medical bills of patients unable to settle their dues.
According to Metro Manila’s fire protection bureau, fire broke out at PGH’s operating room, located on the third floor of PGH’s central block building, past midnight of May 16.
The fire reached first alarm at 12:41 a.m. It was raised to the second alarm at 12:58 a.m. Fire was declared under control at 2:46 a.m. and put out at 5:41 a.m.
The fire caused about P300,000 in damage.
Legaspi said faulty electrical wiring of the circuit breaker was the likely cause of the fire. John Ezekiel J. Hirro