Rody eyes drugstores for indigents

MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte wants to use the P5 billion he got from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) for the President’s Social Fund to build community drugstores catering to the poor.  

Pagcor assistant vice president for community relations and services Arnell Ignacio said Duterte had told them that he wanted to revive the Botika ng Bayan (community pharmacy) program launched during the time of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“When we turned over the P5 billion, his original plan is for the resurrection of the Botika ng Bayan,” Ignacio said in a press briefing in Malacañang yesterday. “The President wants patients with prescription to be given free medicine.”  

Pagcor chair Andrea Domingo handed over to Duterte the P5 billion for his social fund in Malacañang last Monday.

Last Tuesday, Duterte said he might use the Pagcor contribution to build another drug rehabilitation center in the Visayas.

Duterte led the inauguration last Tuesday of a so-called mega drug rehabilitation facility that can accommodate 10,000 patients in Nueva Ecija.

“I’d like to make it clear that each time we provide funds, we cannot say how it would be used. It’s the direction of the President. So if he plans to use it for Botika ng Bayan or rehabilitation center, he will be the one to decide,” Ignacio said.

Ignacio said Pagcor also provides the Dangerous Drugs Board P5 million every month to support its programs.

He added the gaming regulator also allotted P11 million for areas hit by Typhoon Lawin and P5 million each to victims of the Davao City blast and to Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz.

In the same briefing, Ignacio, a comedian and television host, took the chance to defend himself against his critics, who say he is not qualified for his post.

“I am from showbiz. I get that. I get to be bashed everyday,” he said. “And it’s really nothing new to me. I am used to being maligned or criticized. I do not mind them.”

Ignacio said being part of the change the Duterte administration wants to institute is more important than his critics. 

“So far I think we are doing a very good job in Pagcor,” he said.