Maximo B. Dalog Foundation launched

By Wabilyn Leanne Lomong-oy

BONTOC, Mountain Province --  In remembrance of legacies started and pursued by the late Mountain Province Rep. Maximo B. Dalog, Sr. on social services like health and education, the Maximo B. Dalog Foundation was launched here on Oct. 1 which also coincided with his 71st birthday.

The foundation is a non-profit foundation conceptualized by the family to  extend financial assistance to indigent patients suffering from chronic kidney disease.

It also intends to grant scholarships to poor but deserving college students. It also sponsors educational and manpower training programs for youth development. 

The foundation also extends social services through outreach programs in collaboration partnership with other registered organizations, foundations and government agencies.

During the launching of the foundation, lawyer Maximo Y. Dalog Jr. said the foundation shall continue social programs of the late congressman in the family’s private capacity.

He said that together with his siblings and their mother, the foundation will reciprocate the love and respect accorded by Mountain Province citizens to the late congressman especially during their time of bereavement.

Meanwhile, lawyer Cyphrine Maxcel Dalog, daughter of the late congressman, said that the foundation shall continue partnerships with the Kataguan Dialysis Patients Organization and the Children International Philippines, Inc. which had continuously donated goods to Mountain Province.

The incorporators of the foundation include: Cecilia Dalog, wife of the lae congressman; Clarence, Maximo Jr., April Dalome, Leopold, Virginia Teresita, and Cyphrine Maxcel with a total contribution of P 1,519,214.64.

The Kataguan Dialysis Patients Organization, a group of dialysis patients from Mountain Province was the first beneficiary receiving a check amounting to P100, 000 during the launching.

In response, Jennifer Tuzon, treasurer of the organization expressed her gratitude to the foundation and the Dalog family for their support.

Hospital records in Mountain Province show chronic kidney disease has increased in number over the years.

With the opening of the Bontoc General Hospital and the Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital family expenses in the treatment of their patients are lessened.

Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Amador Batay-an representing Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan attended the launching and congratulated members of the family.

As a show of support, he mulled the institutionalization of the Kataguan Caravan Drive for Life in the Lang-ay Festival.

Said caravan is an annual activity organized by the Kataguan Organization in partnership with the Office of the Congressman to generate funds for the weekly dialysis of the patients.

In addition, Dr. Eduardo Calpito, OIC chief of  Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital offered help to assist future activities of the foundation.

He said the dialysis center of the hospital will soon be functional awaiting the release of the license to operate from the Dept. of Health.

He said since he assumed the post at the hospital, he facilitated processing of  documents for operation of the dialysis center.

Calpito said opening of dialysis center will lessen burden of the patients and family members traveling to Baguio and other regions for treatment.