DAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Friday, August 11, graced the centennial celebration of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), and spoke on improving medical care in the country.

President Duterte was welcomed by the SPMC officials led by Dr. Leopoldo J. Vega, who shared SPMC’s formative years and its struggle to achieve modernity to meet growing demands.

The President shared how he took part in the hospital’s early days, then called Davao Medical Center (DMC); how he personally delivered medical and financial assistance, especially for children, when he was still mayor of Davao City.

President Duterte also reiterated his firm stance against corruption and commitment to ensure that his administration be free from corruption.

He stressed the value of honesty, highlighting the government practice of awarding projects to the lowest bidder as a source of corruption.

“Kaya ako, I made a solemn promise, a vow to the nation and to the Filipino people that there will never be a time that I will condone graft,” President Duterte said. ### (PND)