PCSO to shoulder medical expenses of landslide victims

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office will shoulder medical expenses of people injured by the landslide in Compostela Valley that killed at least 28 people.

PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II said the agency has communicated with government hospitals around the area, instructing hospital officials to bill their office for medical expenses incurred by victims of the Pantukan landslide.

Officials in Pantukan said 16 people had been rescued and that six remained hospitalized, including one in critical condition.

“We intend to go directly to assist those hospitalized in government [facilities]. The PCSO will settle the medical expenses of victims recuperating at government hospitals,” Rojas said over the phone.

The agency’s Davao provincial office has begun assessing the needs of the Pantukan landslide victims to verify any other assistance the PCSO could provide for them, according to Rojas.

Unlike the need for relief goods for victims of Tropical Storm Sendong in Northern Mindanao who were being sheltered in evacuation areas, the pressing necessity for the landslide casualties was immediate medical attention, he said.

Once the PCSO provincial office completes their assessment, the board would act on their recommendation immediately, Rojas said.

Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development on Friday cash donation amounting to nearly P400,000 and boxes of relief goods for victims of the Northern Mindanao flash floods.

Director Alan Purisima, the NCRPO chief, said the donations were collected from police personnel in Metro Manila who gave cash and other items.

“We are glad that many organizations have mobilized right away to send help the soonest time possible and we are continuing our efforts in this cause,” Purisima said in a statement.

The NCRPO was also to make another cash donation of P900,000 which Purisima said would be coursed through Camp Crame.