Oriental Peninsula Resources Group Inc., through Citinickel Mines and Development Corp.,conducted a surgical mission in the municipality of Sofronio Española province of Palawan on September 11-13, 2008. Sofronio Española is host community to Citinickel Mines 1,400 hectares mining tenement in the barangays of Pulot Interior, Punang and Labog.
Oriental Peninsula Chair Caroline L. Tanchay says “you know, I have not been exposed to such poverty before. But now that I have seen their condition, I promise that I will try to uplift their lives and share whatever blessings I have. It is time to help those in need. It is time to look at the bright side of things. Everybody has problems especially in the business world. But I realize that there are some people who have more pitiful problems than me and I want to do what I can to help them.”
So far, the 40 year-old businesswoman has been true to her word. She further says “there are not enough doctors in Palawan to cater to the health needs of the people. They lack hospital facilities. That is why we flew in a team of two expert surgeons and four surgical nurses from Manila for a surgical mission in the municipality of Sofronio Española.”
Although this kind of surgical mission to remote areas are quite costly, they are heavensent for the folk people of Española. A total of 64 free surgeries were done by the doctors who are fellows of the Philippine College of Surgeons. The surgeries performed include removal of breast masses, large lipomas, hemangiomas, various masses and even non-healing wounds.
“The people of Española were very happy to see the doctors, so we plan to do more missions in the area. Next time, we plan to fly more doctors from Manila and bring more medicines and supplies. We expect to have a thousand beneficiaries. We plan to conduct regular charity missions to depressed communities”, says Tanchay. And those who are close to Tanchay know that when she puts her passion in a project, she will make sure that it will bear fruit.
In the Philippines, where health is given a low priority by the government, such charity missions by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are a welcome relief to fill in the gaps in providing health care to our people. This, the local residents of Española were privileged to avail and can attest to.
