Marcos’ 69th birthday outreach benefits over 170,000 Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines — More than 170,000 Filipinos benefited from government assistance activities held in connection with 69th birthday celebrations of President Marcos in different parts of the country this month.

“Overall, we were able to benefit 175,565 beneficiaries across approximately 282 participating sites. That is why we received many letters of gratitude from our fellow Filipinos,” Marcos said in his vlog published on Sunday.

The birthday activities brought together various government frontline agencies and included medical services, food distribution and other forms of assistance on Sept. 14, upon his return to Manila after he capped his two-day visit to India by participating at the 18th BRICS Summit.

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Marcos turned 69 on Sept. 13.

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READ: Marcos’ birthday wishes: Lasting gov’t reforms, more time with family

One of the initiatives was a special zero-balance billing program covering patients in 132 hospitals across Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

“Normally, only ward patients are covered by this. But on that day, we extended it to everyone. As long as you were in the hospital, regardless of what room you were in, your bill was covered,” Marcos said.

“Some of them already had hospital bills amounting to millions of pesos. Those were paid,” he added.

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There were also community- and school-based sites where medical checkups were conducted, medicines were distributed, wheelchairs were given out, and other forms of assistance were provided.

Marcos thanked partner local government units, the Department of Education, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and the volunteers for extending services even outside hospitals.

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According to Marcos, he had little time to celebrate his birthday with his family because of his busy schedule.Upon his return to Manila, a post-birthday celebration at the Palace grounds, where the participating LGUs and government agencies joined the celebration.

READ: President opens Palace gates for postbirthday treat

He said the activities were intended to provide assistance to Filipinos rather than hold a conventional birthday celebration.

Marcos also shared several messages of thanks from beneficiaries, including a cancer patient who expressed gratitude for the medical assistance and a leukemia patient who thanked him for the food and free hospital bill.

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“Even if I was not able to read all of your letters, I thank you, and I am happy and pleased that the little assistance we were able to provide was felt by you and gave you at least a little relief,” he said. /cb