September 5, 2025
Post-pandemic, Tzu Chi and QMMC’s partnership continues to thrive
By Dorothy Castro
For many years, Tzu Chi Philippines and Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) have been working together with a common goal: to serve patients and beneficiaries in need.
On September 4, this partnership was finalized in the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at QMMC with four signatories present: Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez, Tzu Chi Philippines Deputy CEO Peggy Sy Jiang, QMMC Chief Medical Professional Staff Dr. Deborah Ann Sales, and QMMC accountant Manilyn Umandap.
“We are very happy that today we will sign a MOA between QMMC and Tzu Chi. Although we did not have a formal MOA for years, Tzu Chi has been helping patients from QMMC,” says CEO Yuñez.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Tzu Chi has been responding to various calls for medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE). QMMC was one of the hospitals who received these donations from Tzu Chi through Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) co-founding member, Dr. Josefino “Jo” Qua. QMMC received 4,320 face masks and 7,400 units of medical PPE.
“At that time, we were not able to see each other (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), but we have had a long-standing relationship with QMMC,” says Deputy CEO Jiang.
After the pandemic, this partnership continued. The foundation’s Medical Assistance Program (MAP) together with QMMC’s medical services helped countless patients who otherwise could not afford medical care.
QMMC, a non-profit government hospital located in Quezon City, caters to patients with a capacity of 57 beds in its emergency room and 599 beds in its patient ward. The need for support and partnerships with foundations like Tzu Chi ensures that financially challenged patients receive the appropriate quality medical care for their condition.
One of these patients was Tzu Chi’s MAP beneficiary, Elmer Juampit, who to this day is able to work as a nursing aide at QMMC after his recovery. Through QMMC’s support, he was treated for his arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and unruptured aneurysm, while Tzu Chi has been covering his maintenance medicines and other needs since 2023.
“We hope to continue this [shared] mission for our patients,” says Dr. Sales.
Through this partnership, more patients like Juampit have access to doctors and treatments to support them in their recovery. Under the MOA, QMMC will refer patients to Tzu Chi’s MAP, which assesses applicants through home visitations and other requirements. Those who qualify for assistance will receive help in the form of medication and other needs until they are better.
For CEO Yuñez, Tzu Chi and QMMC’s compassion towards patients in need is what strengthens this partnership: “Just like Tzu Chi, we [all want] to help many less-fortunate brothers and sisters. We hope that this MOA will enable us to do more.”
On September 4, 2025, Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines and Quirino Memorial Medical Center inked their partnership to further support less-fortunate patients.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez expresses his enthusiasm towards the continued partnership with QMMC, and how this will open more opportunities to help patients.
QMMC Chief Medical Professional Staff Dr. Deborah Ann Sales expresses her gratitude to Tzu Chi, a reliable partner since the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Tzu Chi Philippines Deputy CEO Peggy Sy Jiang (first from right) discusses past efforts with QMMC during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the hospital was in need of face masks and medical personal protective equipment (PPE).
Key officers from Tzu Chi Philippines and Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
During the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, Tzu Chi Philippines was able to charter two flights containing medical personal protective equipment (PPE), with QMMC as one of its recipients.
Elmer Juampit (in blue), is one of Tzu Chi’s Medical Assistance Program (MAP) beneficiaries. Now, he continues his work as a nursing aide at QMMC.
Representatives from Tzu Chi and QMMC take a group photo after a successful MOA signing.