By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – A long-time supporter of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has found another way to greet him on his 74th birthday on Thursday.
Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr. donated a P2.9-million highly-specialized burn treatment machine to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) last Tuesday (March 26) after he was requested by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Kidayawan for the donation as part of its flagship project “Lamdag sa Kabataan tugon sa Kadayawan.”
Floirendo, one of Duterte’s largest financial contributors in the 2016 national elections, said that no government money was used to purchase the machine and that his sponsorship was in response to the request by JCI Kidayawan former president Cathy Binag.
The Humeca Meek Graft Machine and Dermatome burn treatment machine is already operating under the supervision of Dr. Rizal D. Aportadera, of the SPMC--Burn Center.
“It is a highly specialized machine because MEEK is mainly used for patients that suffer more than 30 percent total Body Surface Area burns. It is also very suitable for patients with 5 to 20 percent TBSA burns,” Floirendo said.
He added that in most cases, 40 to 50 percent less donor sites have to be used and these same donor sites could be used again within two weeks.
Floirendo also said he hopes that the machine could help more patients not just from Davao del Norte, but also from other parts of Mindanao that seeks treatment in the island’s primary government hospital.