“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 sa GAA [General Appropriations Act] ‘yung revenues ng PCSO, wala naman. ‘Pag wala tayong benta, wala tayong ibibigay.”
This was the challenge posed by Dr. Jose Bernardo Gochoco, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Medical Services Department Manager, to all the local government units and non-government organizations that are requesting. medical or dentals missions in their areas.
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 P4-5 billion a year, depending on the income; while the rest goes to the Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP).
“Kasi lahat ng pondo natin, galing sa gaming natin. Kung efforts ng gaming natin kumikita tayo, 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 n’yo ang produkto namin,” said Gochoco.
Under the 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,” revealed Gochoco.
“Kasi ang ating charity fund is basically for augmentation purpose only. ‘Di pwedeng saluhin ng PCSO ang trabaho ng 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!” he added.
Out of the IRA, 5 percent is set aside for calamities and emergency purposes. For bigger barangays, it is already worth P5 million plus and 70 percent of that can be used to pre-purchase of supplies, but surprisingly, some LGUs do not use that.
“Bakit ‘di nila ginagalaw? Kung two years mong ‘di ginagalaw ‘yun under the law, puwedeng malipat sa mayor’s social fund. Gagambalain nila lahat ng external sources para ‘di nila magalaw ‘yun,” revealed Gochoco. “And the mayor can use that fund for whatever purpose he wants.”
Medicine donation program
Last January and February, PCSO through its Medical Services Department (MSD) donated P963,459.40 worth of medicines.
Gochoco revealed that for January, PCSO donated 581,959.44 worth of medicines. The beneficiaries include 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; Brgy. Mayamot, Antipolo City; Brgy. BF, Inc. (SCABI), Admiral Elpidio B. Padama.
It also benefitted Mati City, Davao Oriental; Albay, Legaspi City; Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte; Camarines Sur; Brgy. Poblacion, Malasiqui, Pangasinan; Brgy. Ibaan, Batangas; Holy Infant Parish in San Antonio, Zambales; CLSU 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 381,499.96 worth of medicines to Municipality of Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao; Gabaldon, Sierra Madre; Municipality of Sibutu, Tawi-tawi; Brgy. Minalin, Pampanga; Brgys. Emmie, Saduc, and Datu Saber in Lanao; and Baguio City,” Gochoco said.
The beneficiaries also include Brgys. 31, 35, Lagui-Sail, Caoacan all in Laoag City; Brgy. Manlocboc, Aguilar, Pangasinan; Lone District Siquijor; Brgy. Bibiclat, Aliaga in Nueva Ecija; Brgy. Siniguelasan, Bacoor City; Tawi-tawi Province, Grace Family Helper Project (Children of Promise); Salam Compound, Brgy. Culiat, Quezon City; Parish of the Holy Family, Roxas District, Quezon City; and 5th District in Manila.
Gochoco said that in 2017, PCSO donated 3,297,510.69 worth of medicines.
How to avail the program
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 cliente/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.
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