Mandaluyong City–The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is set to release anew the amount of P447 Million as financial assistance to 81 government hospitals across the country.
General Manager Royina M. Garma said in a statement that the Board in its meeting held on March 31, 2020, approved the assistance to 81 mostly provincial hospitals across the country. The financial assistance aims to augment the financial capability of the beneficiary hospitals in catering to COVID-19 patients.
The financial assistance is over and above the P420 Million funds to be released to Philhealth as announced last week, GM Garma added.
The coverage of the assistance is specifically limited to COVID-19 cases and shall be utilized for Testing Kits; Reagents; Medical / Diagnostic Equipment; Confinement; Medicines; Laboratory/Diagnostic procedures; and Personal Protective Equipment.
The newly approved financial assistance will be charged to the Agency's Charity Fund under its Calamity Assistance Program (CAP) budget.
We are calling on the heads of these hospitals to also reach out to the nearest PCSO branch office in their area for the details of the assistance so that they can start planning on how to use the assistance based on the given limitations, GM Garma added.
The additional Php447 Million is in compliance with the Memorandum issued by the Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on March 28, 2020, with the subject Implementation of the Temporary Emergency Measures under the Republic Act (RA) No. 11469, otherwise known as the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which orders government bodies to work together in protecting and supporting health workers and front liners; providing supplies and equipment necessary for detecting the disease and caring for those infected; deliver essential necessities such as food and medicine to the most vulnerable; and, mobilize all state assets to sustain the operations of the government.
To our fellow Filipinos, please know, that PCSO will always be here, ready to provide health and medical related assistance. Let us also do our part as individuals by cooperating and following orders so that we can flatten the curve and put an end soon to this invisible enemy, GM Garma stated.