MakatiMed and MMCFoundation launch public-private partnership program for disaster preparedness
Makati Medical Center, through its corporate social responsibility arm Makati Medical Center Foundation (MMC Foundation), recently launched its Public-Private Partnership Program for Rescue and Emergency Preparedness (PPPREPared) as a demonstration of MakatiMed's commitment to provide public assistance during a major disaster.
The launch was held at The Eye at the Green Sun building in Makati City, and also served as a recognition of the partnerships the MMC Foundation had formed through the years. Honored at the event were its partners from, Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the local government of Davao Oriental.
"Through this program, we at the Makati Medical Center, through the MMC Foundation, can happily and honestly say that we are ready to face a natural disaster", said MMC Foundation President Victor Gisbert, MD. "This program allows us to establish pop-up mobile medical facilities, conduct surgical procedures in disaster areas, and conduct medical trainings in hospitals as last structures standing in times of disaster."
MakatiMed and MMC Foundation Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan said the launch symbolized the commitment of MakatiMed through the MMC Foundation to assist the public during disasters. "We have seen through our work that neither the government nor the private sector alone can do the kind of rescue, recovery and community rebuilding work that is needed in the aftermath of a disaster," he said. "Both need to work together to help our people."
The PPPREPared Program public sector partners include the AFP and the PNP. The private sector partners include TV5 Alagang Kapatid Foundation, One Meralco Foundation, PLDT Smart Foundation, Philippine Red Cross, PDRF and the MVP Tulong Kapatid.
The "MyMMC + Mobile Medical Center", a fully equipped mobile clinic that can be quickly set up in disaster areas, was also unveiled at the event. "We conceptualized and designed this customized pop- up medical facility in partnership with a team from MyHouse and the Solid Group Technologies team headed by its CEO, Mr. David S. Lim," explained MMC Foundation Executive Director Marge Macasaet Barro.
MakatiMed is also currently training 11 barangay health workers who will be manning two eHealth Centers donated by Hewlett Packard, in partnership with PDRF. The eHealth Centers are to be deployed in Tacloban City, Leyte and Naval, Biliran, both still recovering from Typhoon Yolanda. Mr. Meily referred to this eHealth Center Project as "the first replicated eHealth Center of telemedicine outside of India", and expressed his gratitude to MakatiMed and the MMC Foundation for their help.
Lt. Gen. Bonafos said the AFP's partnership with the MMC Foundation "is another step closer to the capability upgrade of military hospitals and in giving quality healthcare to the men and women of the military."
The launch was held the day before the metro-wide quake drill, following reports that the 100-kilometer long West Valley Fault system passing through Metro Manila could trigger a 7.2magnitude quake.