The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has bankrolled the “Sagip Mata, Sagip Buhay” project of the Department of Health and the provincial government of Isabela through mobile eye clinics.
The project was formalized through the signing Friday last week of a Memorandum of Agreement at PCSO led by Chairman Anselmo Simeon Pinili, General Manager Alexander Balutan and Director Bong Suntay; DoH Secretary Francisco Duque III; and Isabela Vice Governor Antonio Albano who represented Gov. Faustino Dy III, Isabela 1st District Representative Rodito Albano III, 1-PACMAN Party-List Rep. Enrico Pineda, and Isabela 3rd District Rep. Napoleon Dy.
Balutan said the project provides free diagnostic and refraction services as well as free eyeglasses to the less privileged among Isabela’s local constituency who have no access to and cannot afford these services, specifically those who are elderly, women, and children suffering visual problems or impairments, he said in a press statement.
He said the charity agency would provide the funds to finance the cost of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures involving diseases of the eye (i.e. glaucoma, cataract, etc.). subject to the guidelines for the implementation of PCSO’s Individual Medical Assistance Program and compliance by concerned patients of the documentary and other requirements required under the IMAP.
“PCSO welcomes this new development in the provision of eye care services to our less fortunate members of the community in the Province of Isabela. I would like to commend the efforts of the local government of Isabela for coming out with this program. Rest assured of our commitment under this agreement subject to the PCSO guidelines on IMAP (Individual Medical Assistance Program),” Balutan said.
The PCSO Charter, or Republic Act (RA) No. 1169, mandates the agency “to provide and raise funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character, and these funds are generated from Lotto, Keno, Digit Games, Small Town Lottery, and Sweepstakes.
As of First Quarter 2018, PCSO already had 120,356 beneficiaries, a 34.09-percent increase from the same period last year.
It also released P2.4 billion IMAP assistance, a 39.96-percent increase from the same period last year.