by Lovely A. Carillo
Government regulations are presumably implemented for good governance. However, it seems ironic that because of a certain government regulation, an organization that seeks to help heart patients in Mindanao is prevented from doing so.
Over 200 pediatric and adult heart patients from all over Mindanao are waiting for simple heart treatments, from simple 2-D echocardiograms to open heart operations, to be conducted by the Mindanao Heart Center. However, these patients may have to wait longer than necessary until enough funds are sourced for their treatments.
The one year old Dr. Gerry Cunanan Mindanao Heart Fund, which was created supposedly to become a foundation that will help Mindanao heart patients, has not even attained the status of a foundation yet all because it could not meet the P1 million-requirement by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The SEC used to require only P50,000 for those wanting to register as a foundation, but this was changed to deter those who intend to use the foundation for soliciting money from foreign donors only to disappear or disband to the dismay of the members and the donors.
“It is not even a full-fledged foundation yet, hence it cannot yet avail of financial and other support from local and foreign donors,” said Mindanao Heart Fund Board of Trustee Dr. Mark Maruya during a press conference at the Philippine Information Agency Friday.
The Fund has only P200,000 in its coffers, and still lacks P800,000 to meet the SEC requirement for those wanting to establish a foundation.
“The most we can do right now given our resources is to help two children and two adult heart patients undergo a 2-D Echo examination every month,” Maruya said. A 2-D echo examination costs P1,100 so for that and other related services alone, the Fund needs at least P10,000 a month to sustain the simple services it is providing the people.
Maruya, who appeared frustrated over not being able to help as many heart patients as possible due to funding constraints, said they are having a hard time raising the remaining money needed to become a foundation which would open doors of opportunity for the Fund abroad when it comes to financial and other donations.
“It is useless to establish a Fund or a Foundation such as this if we cannot help these people by operating on them,” he said, adding that had already written different government agencies and most of these offices could contribute only P10,000 each.
However, he said, the donation only sums up to a small amount not even enough to comply with SEC requirements for a foundation. First, we need help so we can become a foundation already and ask for donations abroad, he said. He added, “We also need more so we can provide 2-D echo, surgery and other treatments for indigent patients.
While the Mindanao Heart Center of the Davao Medical Center pays for the personnel expenses, he said, the supplies being used are on consignment basis which should be paid for after being consumed.
“We are pleading to all those who have the heart and the means to help finance our organization so we can help more people suffering from heart problems,” Maruya said.
