MIRIAM DONATES PORK BARREL FOR PGH EQUIPMENTS

Last year, Senator Santiago dared other senators to donate their annual PDAF, also known as pork barrel funds, to “kickback-free” projects, such as projects for the PGH, which is the country’s biggest charity hospital, and to the University of the Philippines (UP), the country’s premier state university.

She also reiterated her call to other senators to donate to “clean” projects, instead of refusing outright their pork barrel.

“Mere renunciation of pork barrel does not constitute a public service. It needs follow-up to make sure that the money refused goes to worthwhile social services. Instead of seeking publicity for giving up pork barrel, senators should allocate their pork barrel to ‘clean’ projects where it is impossible to get a kickback, such as the importation of expensive medical machines to be made available free to the poor,” she said.

The medical equipment, consisting of endoscopic ultrasound machines and endoscopy systems, will be used for the improvement of patient services and the teaching-learning situations in UP-PGH’s gastroenteronomy section.

Santiago has consistently been one of PGH’s top donors of medical equipment since 2005. The same year, she donated endoscopy systems to the PGH, while last year, she sponsored the construction of infliction control rooms, medical students’ call rooms, aux rooms and medical gas installation wards.

In 2005, she launched the “one senator, one PGH machine", a personal campaign intended to solicit pledges from other senators to donate to the PGH. Although the campaign has raised curiosity and interest among the senators, Santiago lamented that no senator has followed up on his or her pledge.

UP President Ermelinda Roman, UP Manila Chancellor Ramon Arcadio, and PGH Director Carmelo Alfiler were also present in the turnover ceremony.