*PARAÑAQUE CITY, Philippines — September 16, 2026* — In support of the government's inclusive healthcare and community welfare programs, the *Sigma Foundation* formally turned over *3,500 brand-new wheelchairs* to the *Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)* in a ceremony held on Tuesday, September 16, 2026, at the PAGCOR Executive Office in Pasay City.
The donation is one of the largest private-sector wheelchair donations received by PAGCOR this year and will be distributed to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and indigent patients nationwide through PAGCOR's nationwide network and partner Local Government Units (LGUs).
The ceremonial turnover was led by *Sigma Foundation Managing Director Sigma Asia and was officially received by *PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco*, together with PAGCOR officials from the Corporate Social Responsibility Group (CSRG).
Under the agreement, PAGCOR will handle the identification, validation, and last-mile distribution of the wheelchairs to ensure they reach the most vulnerable sectors in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
"We are deeply grateful to Sigma Foundation for this generous and timely donation. These 3,500 wheelchairs are not just medical devices — they are instruments of hope, dignity, and mobility," said Chairman Tengco.
"This partnership is aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive that PAGCOR's revenues should be felt directly by the Filipino people, especially those who need help the most," Tengco added.
Sigma Foundation said the initiative, dubbed *"Project Aruga: Gulong ng Pag-asa,"* aims to address the huge backlog in mobility assistance for Filipinos who cannot afford wheelchairs.
"We chose to partner with PAGCOR because of its unmatched reach and its heart for the marginalized. We want to make sure these wheelchairs don't just stay in warehouses — they go to the barrios, to the islands, to those who have been bedridden for years because they have no means," said Sigma Foundation's Chairman.
Each wheelchair is heavy-duty, foldable, and comes with footrests, safety brakes, and a one-year maintenance commitment from the Foundation.
*Distribution Plan:*
PAGCOR confirmed the 3,500 units will be distributed as follows:
*1,500 units* – Luzon beneficiaries through PAGCOR's branches in Angeles, Cavite, and Bicol
*1,000 units* – Visayas beneficiaries through PAGCOR Cebu and Bacolod
*1,000 units* – Mindanao and BARMM beneficiaries
The first batch of 500 wheelchairs will be dispatched to Ilocos Norte, Quezon Province, and Davao del Norte within the week.
PAGCOR's Corporate Social Responsibility Group said beneficiaries will be validated in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and LGU Persons with Disability Affairs Offices (PDAO).
The September 16 turnover marks the start of a long-term partnership between Sigma Foundation and PAGCOR, with both parties eyeing additional projects in 2027 involving prosthetics, hearing aids, and medical missions for remote communities.
###
For PWDs and families requesting wheelchairs, you may contact PAGCOR CSRG at (02) 8522-1357 or apply through your local PDAO.
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento