PCSO ASSISTANCE. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan (2nd from right) turns over a PHP1-M assistance fund to officials of the Buluan District Hospital in Maguindanao. The PCSO also opened an office in Buluan town on Tuesday (Sept. 11, 2018). (Photo courtesy of Sau Sing/Maguindanao provincial government)
BULUAN, Maguindanao -- The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) highlighted its opening of an office in Barangay Poblacion in this town Tuesday by extending medical assistance to indigent patients here and those coming from other parts of the province.
This capital town, situated in the southern tip of the province, is the hometown of Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu.
While here, charity workers led by PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan, also turned over a check worth PHP1 million as an endowment fund for the Buluan District Hospital, which intends to improve its health facilities, including the setting up of an intensive care unit.
“This is our way of helping indigent people of Maguindanao, (and) at the same time contribute to the government’s desire to address poverty and rebellion here,” Balutan said.
A former Marine general assigned in Maguindanao, Balutan said he personally saw the difficulty of poor families from remote areas of the province in availing of government health services, particularly those from the so-called SPMS box.
The SPMS box is a military term used on a particular set of areas where the terror group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters operate.
It comprises the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi Ampatuan town), Mamasapano and Shariff Saydona, all in Maguindanao’s second district.
Health officials in Maguindanao have lauded the PCSO’s decision to put up an office here to facilitate medical assistance to indigent patients. (PNA)
