MANILA – The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) provided nearly PHP450 million worth of medical assistance to at least 70,000 Filipinos through its Medical Assistance Program in the third quarter of 2023.
In a statement on Friday, PCSO Chairman Junie Cua said 71,302 indigents with health-related problems received PHP447.83 million in assistance through its flagship program covering the months of July to September.
Cua said this brings the aid released by the agency to PHP1.21 billion for the year so far, benefiting 185,727 Filipinos and their families.
For 2022, the PCSO released PHP1.39 billion in MAP assistance to 210,731 poor Filipinos.
“Patuloy pong katuwang ang PCSO ng mga kababayan nating nangangailangan ng tulong. Bilang flagship program ng PCSO, pursigido po talaga kami na paramihin pa ang kababayan nating nakikinabang sa MAP (The PCSO is always ready to help our countrymen in need of help. As the flagship program of the PCSO, we are committed towards increasing the number of Filipinos who will benefit from the MAP),” Cua said.
He said MAP is a “big help” especially to poor families who have members that are confined in hospitals, or in need of dialysis, chemotherapy and other treatments.
Cua also thanked Filipinos who patronize PCSO games, adding their participation could also be considered as a "bayanihan" (cooperative endeavor) since those who patronize the sweepstakes and lottery draws are helping fund the treatment of their countrymen through MAP.
The PCSO is mandated to designate 30 percent of its revenues for its charity fund, 55 percent for prizes and 15 percent for its operations.
For the second quarter of the year, at least 53,600 MAP beneficiaries received more than PHP354 million in medical assistance; while more than 60,700 Filipinos got about PHP410 million in the first quarter. (PNA)
