THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) continues its distribution of ambulances to recipients from all over the country.
On June 16 PCSO Chairman Erineo S. Maliksi turned over an ambulance each to to the municipalities of Tantangan, South Cotabato, and Anda, Bohol.
On June 18 we released an ambulance each to the West Visayas State University Medical Center in Jaro, Iloilo, and to the municipality of Liliw, Laguna.
On June 19 PCSO Director Bem Noel traveled to the Leyte Provincial Capitol in Tacloban City to turn over 39 ambulances to one city, 37 municipalities and one association in the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar and Biliran.
On June 29 we turned over six in Mindanao to the municipal governments of Piagpo, Maguing and Binidayan, Lanao del Sur; Maigo and Culambugan, Lanao del Norte; and President Roxas in North Cotabato.
On the same day, three municipalities in Luzon also received
ambulances: Santo Tomas, Batangas; Burgos, Ilocos Sur; and Sasmuan, Pampanga.
The PCSO Ambulance Donation Program provides ambulances to local government units (LGUs) and institutions on either a 60-40 cost-sharing scheme or outright donation, depending on certain criteria. Each recipient may request for a new ambulance every five years.
One of the agency’s goals is to eventually provide every city and municipality, with an ambulance for the emergency needs of residents, especially those in remote areas far from hospitals or health centers.
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ON the medical and health-care
front, among other related initiatives, the PCSO held on June 24 a medical and dental mission, in
cooperation with the A Teacher Partylist group in SB Compound, Quezon City, for around 300 patients.
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MEANWHILE, the Branch Operations Sector of the PCSO continues to lower agency operating costs, even as it expands public access to its services by transferring existing and opening new branches in spaces given or lent rent-free by local government units.
The branches slated for transfer soon are the Albay branch, to an office at the Albay Capitol Annex, Legazpi City; the Laguna branch to Alonte Sports Arena, Biñan; and the Rizal branch to the Municipal Compound, Cainta.
With the opening of a new branch in Antique in the third week of July, the PCSO will have 47 branches nationwide, from an initial 25, when the present board of directors assumed office in 2010. The PCSO is working toward opening a branch in every province over the medium to long term.
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CONGRATULATIONS to the connections of filly Skyway, longshot winner of the PCSO Silver Cup held on June 21 at Metroturf Racecourse in Malvar, Batangas.
Skyway, the least favored among the nine entries in the race, outran her opponents over 1,800 meters. We were pleased to award trophies to the representative of her registered owner, Deemark International, and to jockey Virgilio M. Camañero Jr. and trainer Anthony Francisco.
The PCSO maintains a racing- sponsorship program in line with its charter, Republic Act 1169. The next race on its calendar will be held on July 25 at Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.
The recipient of the charity proceeds of the race was the President Elpidio Quirino Foundation, represented at the awarding ceremony by Quirino’s granddaughter and PEQ Foundation head Cory Quirino and other members
of the family.
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THE PEQ Foundation is commemorating the late President’s 125th birth year by supporting programs in education, environment and economic development.
The cause of education was especially significant for President Quirino and still is for his family today because, unknown to many, he served as a barrio schoolteacher while attending Vigan High School.
He later obtained a law degree from the University of the Philippines and was one of the topnotchers of the Bar examination of 1915.
According to Cory, herself a celebrity and advocate of health and wellness, the foundation will be holding throughout this year the “Quirino at 125” lectures and the “Teacher Happy Healthy Day” event series, among other activities.
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II is vice chairman and general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.