After almost nine months of planning and construction the charity dental clinic built by the Local Government Unit of the Municipality of Bulan, Sorsogon, Philippines was finally completed and was opened February 20, 2025. The clinic was built inside the second Municipal Rural Health Unit (RHU II) Building located at Barangay Obrero.
Dentistry For Every Village Foundation donated all the dental equipment , instruments and start-up dental supplies good for three months. Following that, the Municipality will provide supplies on a continuing basis.
Given the limited available space, dental office designers from the Foundation came up with a remarkable concept design that allows patient comfort, tolerates practical workflow and facilitates easy implementation of infection control protocols and workplace safety. The concept design was then converted into an architectural working plan for construction by the Bulan Municipal Engineers Offices.
The budget allocated (800K Pesos) for the construction was derived from a Supplemental Budget Request and Resolution that was approved by the Municipal Council and the Municipal Mayor.
Heading the dignitaries that were present during the opening ceremonies and the blessing that followed was Mayor Rodolfo Gordola .Also present were other employees from the various governmental departments.
Dr. Ed de la Vega, the Dentistry For Every Village Foundation President introduced the dental clinic to the municipality using PowerPoint Presentation and highlighted all the details about the clinic particularly the equipment provided that made it a model for all RHU dental clinics in the Province of Sorsogon.
Ms. Marcela L. de la Vega, the D4EVF CFO signed over the Deed of Donation to the Municipality of Bulan.
The Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting followed with Officers of the Foundation and Municipal dignitaries doing the cutting. Then the clinic was blessed by the Municipal Parish Priest and thus the clinic was formally opened.
Also present at the event were the Honorable Judge Maliz Guan Aragon and Elisa and Romeo Gimao, the prime movers of the project. They were the ones that brought the need of Bulan for a dental clinic to the attention of the Foundation leading to the creation of the project.
The members of the core leadership of the D4EVF Philippine Section took a 12-hour bus ride from Manila to attend the ceremonies. Heading the delegation was Dr. Maria Leah Imperio. She was accompanied by Dr. Luz Villanueva, Dr. Maria Delia Saquido Picardal and Dr. Cesario del Rosario.
The clinic will be manned by Dr. Elsa Rebustillo-Tan and will be managed by the Municipality.
All dental services at the clinic are free for the residents of Bulan, Sorsogon, Philippines.
Several generous donors including the International College of Dentists Global Visionary Fund of Flint, Michigan and the Henry Schein Cares Foundation of Melville, New York provided the supplies and resources that made the project possible. The dental chair and unit were donated by Dr. Carina Lapid of Antipolo City, Philippines.
A Commemorative Plaque listing all the generous donors and benefactors to the clinic was prominently hanged at the Patient’s Waiting Room to honor everyone that made the project possible.
The Dentistry for Every Village Foundation, Inc., raises funds by seeking grants and donations to build dental clinics. These clinics are donated to health care institutions that have the resources to house the facility, experiences and expertise to run them efficiently, and whose management is supportive of the cause.
