BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, has renovated the Municipal Health Office in Virac, Catanduanes, in line with its ongoing rehabilitation program of public health structures in calamity-prone provinces.
Catanduanes was devastated by Typhoon “Ruby” in 2014 and by Typhoons “Karen” and “Lawin” last year.
The office was turned over to local officials in ceremonies led by BDO Foundation program director Rose Espinosa and BDO Catanduanes-Virac branch head Normilyn Marino, who recommended the repair of the health center to the foundation and assisted in its completion.
Officials led by Virac Mayor Samuel Laynes, Vice Mayor Arlynn Arcilla and municipal health officer Dr. Elva Joson accepted the refurbished rural health unit.
Like previous health offices it has rebuilt, BDO Foundation renovated the offices, clinics, consultation rooms and treatment rooms of Virac’s health office along with its spaces for the elderly, children, mothers and babies.
The foundation also improved the center’s birthing facilities, making sure good quality patient care is available to mothers. The initiative supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goal for the improvement of maternal healthcare.
The improvements will benefit Virac’s population of over 72,000 residents from 63 barangays, Laynes said. Doctors and nurses of the health office will also be able to provide their services more effectively to patients, especially the underprivileged, Joson added.