Malacañang
4 February 2014

President Benigno S. Aquino III extended his appreciation to the officials and members of the Philippine Medical Association in Chicago (PMAC) for helping the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda.

PMAC conducted a medical mission and relief operation for the typhoon victims in Tacloban City and in Palo, Leyte and likewise held medical and surgical missions in Marinduque before paying a courtesy call to the President in Malacañang.

Their presence, according to President Aquino, is another example of the Filipinos’ strength as a people and proves that the spirit of bayanihan continues to live. “It is the spirit that has helped us overcome so many challenges in our history and it is the spirit that continues to fuel our efforts to build back better,” he added.

Moreover, President Aquino mentioned some of the administration’s successes that include the GDP growth of 6.5 percent during the fourth quarter of 2013 despite all the disasters that struck towards the end of last year. This increase makes the Philippines one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, next to China.

He also said that the government became gradually capable of providing more resources to government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Before the end of the ceremony, PMAC, headed by its president-elect Dr. Nida Blankas-Hernaez, gave President Aquino a Presidential Award of Honor and a commemorative book.

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