Soaring lotto sales benefit charity schemes
There’s no cash bond. With a relatively small amount of money, you can already have a lotto business
Daily TribuneThere’s no cash bond. With a relatively small amount of money, you can already have a lotto business
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Melquiades ‘Mel’ Robles (fourth from right) together with Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. (fourth from left) hand over symbolic key for the the turnover of 200 units of ambulances as part of its Patient Transport Vehicle. Donation Program to qualified LGUs held at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City on Monday. | Photograph courtesy of Glen Jacob Jose for the Daily Tribune
With lotto games posting record-high ticket sales lately, many Filipinos are seeking to have easier access to the setting up of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office betting outlets.
Erik Imson, PCSO's market specialist for product development division, said the agency has eased requirements for the setting up of lotto outlets for a total capital of P30,000.
"There's no cash bond. With a relatively small amount of money, you can already have a lotto business," Imson said during a recent the Daily Tribune's Asian Innovation Forum in Barangay Sucat, Parañaque City.
More Filipinos putting up lotto stations translate to bigger contributions to charity.
"Forty percent of the PSCO charity fund must be allocated to health programs of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth as required by the Universal Health Care, or UHC, Law.
"It is better to help than being the one being helped," Imson said.
PCSO reported a P2.7-billion contribution to the health fund until December last year.
The PCSO, thus, turned over, on Monday, 200 new patient transport vehicles to local government units nationwide to enhance the delivery of emergency health services to the public. PCSO general manager Mel Robles with Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos led the ceremonial turnover of the 200 brand-new Toyota Hi-Ace PTVs to 26 LGUs held at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, Mandaluyong City.
Vehicle costs P2.2M each
Each PTV unit costs around P2.2 million, with basic equipment such as a stretcher, oxygen tank, blood pressure monitor, and wheelchair for medical emergencies.
Its main purpose is the fast and safe transport of patients to hospitals.
The PTVs are among the 225 units procured in 2022, which are being turned over to various LGUs in batches.
Robles said they aim to complete the vehicle donation by 18 December.
Robles said the objective of the program is to address the need for medical transport vehicles in conflict-stricken areas, vulnerable communities, and geographically isolated and disadvantaged regions.
By providing these ambulances, Robles said the PCSO aims to facilitate the prompt and secure transportation of patients to and from treatment facilities with efficient access and this initiative showcases the commitment of the PCSO in supporting the healthcare needs of various LGUs.
1 unit per municipality
He added the agency targets to give at least one PTV to each of the nearly 2,000 municipalities in the country.
He disclosed that there are 379 PTV units procured for 2023 and 1,000 more for 2024.
"We assure you this is our solid plan; the pledge of the President nung sinabi niyang dapat dalhin sa mamamayan ang serbisyo. There's no other way of bringing that (service) than the ambulances that we have," he explained.
"We hope sa pamamagitan nito ay maibaba natin ang serbisyo ng pamahalaan sa lahat ng mamamayan," he added.
The PCSO said the recipients of PTVs are Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Batangas, Laguna, Occidental Mindoro, Sorsogon and Mt. Province.
Abalos, who was also present at the event, expressed their gratitude for the collaborative efforts and care of the PCSO for the LGUs.
"It is doing great things under the leadership of Mel Robles of PCSO. I became mayor, if my citizens need help, in the hospital, the PCSO is there. If help is needed, now the ambulance is still there, really complete. I cannot say more than enough but thank you very much PCSO," Abalos said.
The PCSO, thus, turned over, on Monday, 200 new patient transport vehicles to local government units nationwide to enhance the delivery of emergency health services to the public.
Robles also shared that the PCSO has doubled its charity fund for 2024, emphasizing the agency's mandate as the government's charity arm to help Filipinos in terms of financial, educational and medical assistance, among others.
The PCSO is relentless in its thrust to assist not only to LGUs and hospitals but also to Filipinos across the country through its Medical Access Program and many more.
The program is funded by revenues from PCSO games nationwide.
Robles urged the public to patronize PCSO games to generate more funds to be used to assist Filipino.
