THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) made a productive trip recently to Camarines Sur and Albay provinces to visit the branch offices there and preside over other agency activities.
On May 22 we—PCSO directors Betty B. Nantes and lawyer Mabel V. Mamba, and myself, along with other officials and staff—traveled to Naga City to inaugurate the PCSO branch office that was transferred to the new Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum.
The space was offered to the PCSO at a token rent of P1 per year, a form of partnership that the agency is entering into with an increasing number of local government units (LGUs) to make PCSO services more accessible to our kababayan all over the country.
While there, we also turned over an ambulance to the city health officer. Two other municipalities, Calabanga and Ocampo, are scheduled to receive their ambulances soon.
We also handed an endowment fund check for P1 million to the Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital.
Our special guest on that occasion was Rep. Ma. Leonor Gerona-Robredo of the Third District of Camarines Sur. We were gratified to learn from her that the province and its residents are receiving consistently good services from the personnel of PCSO Camarines Sur, headed by Nelly Loyola.
“In our experience,” she said, “your agency is very efficient, and we have never had any patients whom we’ve referred to you come back to us to complain about your services.”
Robredo added that the ambulance that the PCSO donated to Naga City will be useful to the residents, some of whom, for the lack of rescue vehicles in the area, have to hitch a ride in private cars during medical emergencies.
“The PCSO is an important part of the lives of the poor,” she said. “The significance of the services that the agency delivers cannot be overemphasized.”
The following day, May 23, we were in Legazpi City, where we were joined by PCSO Chairman Erineo S. Maliksi, and Director and lawyer Francisco G. Joaquin III.
In a ceremony that was also attended by Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda and LGU officials and staff, we turned over six ambulances to the municipalities of Camalig (represented by Mayor Carlos Irwin G. Baldo Jr.) Manito (Mayor Caesar S. Daep); Polangui (Mayor Cherilie M. Sampal); Guinobatan (Mayor Ann Y. Ongjoco), Daraga (Mayor Carlos V. Baylon); and to the Provincial Health Office of Albay.
Under the PCSO’s Ambulance Donation Program, an LGU can request units every five years. Fourth-to sixth-class municipalities can avail themselves of the ambulances under a 100-percent donation, while first- to third-class municipalities can enter into a 60-percent PCSO and 40-percent LGU sharing scheme.
These ambulances and rescue vehicles are of great service to the residents of LGUs, especially those in remote areas far from a hospital or health center.
But where does the PCSO get the funds to buy and give away ambulances?
From the PCSO’s popular Lotto and other number games, 55 percent of revenues go to the Prize Fund, 30 percent to the Charity Fund and 15 percent to operating expenses. It is from the Charity Fund that programs, such as ambulance donation, individual medical assistance and others, are funded.
Shares from revenues from Lotto are also given to municipalities, cities and provinces that host PCSO outlets. For the period July to December 2014, the PCSO released around P1.5 million for the province of Albay. Around P532,000 of that went to Legazpi City alone.
The PCSO and LGUs can work together for win-win situations that benefit the public. In terms of revenue growth, LGUs can host more PCSO Lotto outlets. This would result in more funds for PCSO’s Charity Fund, so we can give away more ambulances, while LGUs will receive higher shares from Lotto.
In addition, there would be business opportunities for entrepreneurs, and there would be jobs for tellers and other employees of Lotto outlets.
While in Legazpi City, we also attended a gathering of personnel of the 12 branches under the PCSO’s Southern Tagalog and Bicol region department to celebrate the PCSO’s 80th anniversary.
We commend the hard work of our branch managers and personnel in the 12 branches there: Leticia Renomeron, head of Batangas branch; Paloma Malinao in Cavite; Flora Obina in Laguna; Rolando Batislaong Jr. in Palawan; Lady Elaine Gatdula in Quezon and Marinduque; Ma. Cecilia Cruz in Rizal; Augusto Tordillos in Oriental Mindoro; Laila Galang in Albay; Doris Olondriz in Sorsogon; Nelly Loyola in Camarines Sur; and Estrella Abasolo in Camarines Norte.
In partnership with both the government and the private sector, the PCSO seeks to continuously improve its service delivery to our fellow Filipinos nationwide.
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II is the vice chairman and general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.