MANILA -- The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is set to release an additional PHP5.4-million financial assistance to local government units (LGUs) affected by typhoon "Vinta".
In a statement, PCSO Chairman Jose George Corpuz said this is on top of the PHP10 million released earlier by PCSO as assistance to the victims of typhoon “Urduja”.
The amount will be released to Davao (PHP2.5 million) and Tagum (PHP500,000), and provinces of Davao del Norte (PHP1 million), Davao Occidental (PHP200,000), Davao Oriental (PHP600,000), and Compostela Valley (PHP600,000)
“PCSO will always be ready to come to the aid of Filipinos who are victims of natural calamities”, added Corpuz.
He said that this is the mandate of PCSO, to provide medical assistance and charities of national character to all Filipinos regardless of status, religion or belief.
For his part, PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan said the board has yet to release an another more than PHP3-million financial assistance for the typhoon victims.
The amount was saved from the approved Christmas celebration budget of the 1,580 PCSO employees together with their families that became the subject of controversy after newly-appointed PCSO Director Sandra Cam exposed it.
“The financial assistance will be turned over to the officials of the local government units concerned for the purchase of blankets, mats, mosquito nets, hygiene kits, food packs, rice, canned goods, kitchen utensils, clothes, emergency first aid kits and drinking water,” Balutan said.
“The additional P5.4M shall be turned over to the concerned LGUs, to be coursed through the (PCSO) Branch Office with jurisdiction over the aforementioned provinces, which shall also be responsible for ensuring that the concerned beneficiary-LGUs shall comply with all obligations, including liquidation f the financial assistance granted,” Balutan said. (PNA)
