By Diann Calucin
The Quezon City local government was recognized by the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) during its 33rd Operation Lifeline Awards and Recognition Ceremony held at the Basilio Valdez Hall, VMMC Theater, Diliman, Quezon City on Tuesday, Nov. 22
The city received the prestigious Gawad Pagkilala Award during the event where Department of Pathology Head and Chairman of Operation Lifeline Dr. Godwin Hernaez and VMMC Acting Director Dr. Franklin Gali extended their gratitude to the city government for its continuous support to their programs.
The VMMC's Gawad Pagkilala Award is an award to honor a person or institution that has given significant support to VMMC's "Voluntary Blood Donation Program."
City Councilor Bernard Herrera and Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) Officer-in-charge Deborah Dacanay accepted the award on behalf of Mayor Joy Belmonte.
Aside from the blood donation program, the city government said it also collaborated with the VMMC in the implementation of vaccination drives in Quezon City.
Among the recipients of the award were Triskelion Council of Quezon City (TCQC), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and Dugong Alay Dugtong Buhay Inc.
In line with the event, with the theme: "Reinvigorating the Culture of Solidarity Through Blood Donation Amidst Uncertain Times", VMMC also celebrated its 67th Founding Anniversary.
Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary for Administration Kristian Ablan was guest of honor and speaker.
VMMC was established in the Philippines in 1955 through the assistance of the United States government and its veterans administration to provide quality hospitalization, medical care, and treatment to Filipino veterans.