PCSO donates close to P1-M worth of medicines in 2 months

Dr. Jose Bernardo Gochoco, Medical Services Department Manager, said his office donated PHP963,459.40 worth of medicines for the first two months of the year.(PNA photo)

MANILA — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) through its Medical Services Department has donated almost PHP1-million worth of medicines to local government units and non-government organizations which requested for the conduct of medical or dentals missions in their areas.

Dr. Jose Bernardo Gochoco, Medical Services Department Manager, said his office donated PHP963,459.40 worth of medicines for the first two months of the year.

Gochoco revealed that for January, PCSO donated PHP581,959.44 worth of medicines. The beneficiaries include the municipality of Pilar, Capiz; Lanao del Sur, Nueva Ecija, Quezon City Police Department personnel, dependents, and indigent residents; Barangay San Roque, La Paz, Tarlac; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Barangay Mayamot, Antipolo City; Barangay BF, Inc. (SCABI), Admiral Elpidio B. Padama.

It also benefitted Mati City, Davao Oriental; Albay, Legaspi City; Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte; Camarines Sur; Barangay Poblacion, Malasiqui, Pangasinan; Barangay Ibaan, Batangas; Holy Infant Parish in San Antonio, Zambales; Central Luzon State University; 1st District Davao del Norte, 3rd District North Cotabato; 1st District of Ilocos Sur; Brgy. Kaong, Silang, Cavite; Department of National Defense, National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, Silang, Cavite; and World War II veterans.

“For February, PCSO donated PHP381,499.96 worth of medicines to Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao; Gabaldon, Sierra Madre; Municipality of Sibutu, Tawi-tawi; Barangay Minalin, Pampanga; Brgys. Emmie, Saduc, and Datu Saber in Lanao; and Baguio City,” Gochoco said in a statement.

The beneficiaries also include Barangays 31, 35, Lagui-Sail, Caoacan all in Laoag City; Barangay Manlocboc, Aguilar, Pangasinan; Lone District Siquijor; Barangay Bibiclat, Aliaga in Nueva Ecija; Barangay Siniguelasan, Bacoor City; Tawi-tawi Province, Grace Family Helper Project (Children of Promise); Salam Compound, Barangay Culiat, Quezon City; Parish of the Holy Family, Roxas District, Quezon City; and 5th District in Manila.

Gochoco said that in 2017, PCSO donated PHP3,297,510.69 worth of medicines.

Meanwhile, Gochoco urged the LGUs to help them to increase agency’s revenues.

“If you want PCSO to help you, there has to be an effort on your part to help increase our revenues. Kung ayaw n’yo kaming tulungan, saan kami kukuha ng funds [para] sa lugar niyo? ‘Yung funds na makukuha namin, ‘yun din ang ibabalik namin sa inyo. Buti sana kung kasama saGAA [General Appropriations Act] ‘yung revenues ng PCSO, wala naman. ‘Pag wala tayong benta, wala tayong ibibigay (If you don’t want to help us, where are we going to get funds to provide for your areas. The funds that we get, it will benefit your constituents. It’s good if PCSO’s revenues included in the GAA but it’s not. Without sales, we cannot give anything),” he explained.

The PCSO Charter, or RA 1169, particularly on revenue allocation, provides that the revenue of the PCSO shall be allocated to 55 percent for prize fund (payment of prizes), 30 percent for charity fund (various charity programs and service) and 15 percent as operating fund (maintenance and operating expenses).

Gochoco explained that of the Charity Fund, a percentage goes to mandatory contributions, which is PHP4-5 billion a year, depending on the income; while the rest goes to the Individual Medical Assistance Program.

“Kasi lahat ng pondo natin, galing sa gaming natin. Kung (sa) efforts ng gaming natin, kumikita tayo (All our funds come from gaming. As far as our gaming is concerned, it is earning.), fine. [So] if ever PCSO will help you, there has to be an effort on your part to help increase our revenues. We can only give what we have. Tangkilikin o i-promote nyo ang produkto namin (Help us promote PCSO products),” said Gochoco.

Under Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, provinces, independent cities, component cities, municipalities, and barangays get a separate Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) or share of revenues from the Philippine national government.

“Ang local government ang in-charge diyan — ang DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Deveopment] at DOH may devolve component diyan. Walang sinabi sa batas na PCSO ang dapat tumulong diyan. (The local government is in-charge. The law doesn’t compel the PCSO to provide help),” revealed Gochoco.

“Because the charity fund is basically for augmentation purpose only. It is not the duty of PCSO but the LGUs, Department of Health, or Department of Social Welfare and Development. It’s the duty of the local government, provincial and municipal governments to spend for that. May IRA sila for that. Andami nilang IRA! (They have IRA for that. They have lots of IRA),” he added.

Out of the IRA, 5 percent is set aside for calamities and emergency purposes. For bigger barangays, it is already worth PHP5 million plus and 70 percent of that can be used to pre-purchase of supplies, but surprisingly, some LGUs do not use that.

The Medicine Donation Program (In-kind) of PCSO provides augmentation of the needed medicines to qualified government and non-government agencies (NGAs) to enable them to provide efficient and effective health care services.

Interested parties must submit a letter of request — addressed to the PCSO Chairman/General Manager, Consumption Reports from previous request (if any); Project Proposal which should Include the following information: Project Proposal with project rationale, project objectives, project clientele/area coverage, for NGOs (as the need arises), and SEC registration and endorsement letter from LGUs.

All requests shall be subject for verification to check the veracity and/or legitimacy of the requesting party. (PNA)