The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has released over PHP1.814 billion in medical assistance to a total of 250,850 indigent beneficiaries nationwide for the year 2020, despite the halt of its gaming operations for three months due to the enhanced community quarantine amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Based on the agency’s 2020 accomplishment report released on Wednesday, PCSO general manager Royina Garma said the assistance was processed through various departments under the Branch Operations Sector of PCSO with 239,101 individuals (95.3 percent) while 11,749 (4.7 percent) through the Malasakit centers in 25 hospitals.

“The PCSO is an agency that is self-sustaining. We do not get funds from the national budget. Fortunately, we were able to re-open our doors in July 2020 PCSO was allowed to resume its games in general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ, our sales resumed gradually increased. Although we had to slowly reinstate our games as the threat of Covid-19 was still very much present,” Garma said.

The Medical Access Program (MAP) is designed to augment the medical needs of the Filipinos nationwide, particularly the need for hospital confinement, chemotherapy, dialysis, and post-transplant medicines. The program is funded by revenues from PCSO games nationwide.

Garma said the PCSO was able to assist through the issuance of guarantee letters to patients under hospital confinement, chemotherapy, dialysis, and medicines for hemophilia and post-transplant.

She said in these trying and challenging times, PCSO once again stepped up in aiding the Filipino people, especially the marginalized sector through its MAP.

Garma said amid the Covid-19 crisis, the agency is taking the necessary steps to continue providing medical assistance to the increasing number of indigents who need assistance.

She said the agency also raised PHP524.4 million for the calamity assistance program with an emphasis on the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption and the three major typhoons Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses as well as for the victims of Covid-19 who were hospitalized and were rendered jobless.

Garma also said PCSO has turned over 294 new patient transport vehicles worth PHP387.5 million to local government units nationwide to enhance the delivery of emergency health services to the public.

The PCSO’s corporate social responsibility was able to extend assistance worth PHP21.73 million to 29,884 individuals through the CSR activities.

“All our accomplishments would have not been possible without the trust and support of all our gaming clients and partners. Considering that the vaccines are already available in other countries with a handful in the Philippines, the PCSO shall not rest in providing essential health and medical necessities to our countrymen especially for the indigent Pinoys,” Garma said. (PNA)