TARLAC CITY – A Japanese and his wife who is a native of Concepcion, Tarlac donated a modern and fully equipped diagnostic van worth P8.3 million to the provincial government.
Noriharu and Abby Watabe gave the donation to help provide health care to less fortunate Tarlaqueños.
Abby said during the recent simple ceremony at the Capitol that she would like to give back to his home province.
“Governor Susan in an informal chat asked me to donate a diagnostic van to be utilized as a mobile clinic aimed to reach far flung areas of the province and give medical care for our less fortunate fellow Tarlaqueños,” Watabe said.
Yap and Watabe are close friends.
According to Watabe, she and Yap, together with Board Member Henry Cruz convinced her husband to donate a diagnostic van as a gesture of gratitude to the people of Tarlac.
“It was not that hard to convince my husband as he is a generous person. What rocked me is when he said that Tarlac is lucky to have Gov. Susan as our governor…as she really cares for her people,” Watabe said. She added that during her younger years, they cannot even afford to buy medicines due to poverty.
Yap and Vice Governor Carlito “Casada” David thanked the Watabe couple for their generosity and love for Tarlaqueños.
“We wish Abby and her husband all the best for their philanthropic deeds for the people of Tarlac,” Yap said.
A Plaque of Recognition was given to the Watabe couple for their provision of a medical diagnostic van with complete facilities that will ensure that each Tarlaqueño has access to preventive and specialty health care that they need whenever they need it.
Also during the turn-over ceremony, the provincial government handed a check worth P2-million to the Philippine National Red Cross-Tarlac Chapter Administrator Luciano Paras Jr. as part of the commitment of the capitol to the blood donation program.