A priest blesses the 90 patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to be sent to Cebu, Bohol, Pangasinan, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, and Rizal in a ceremonial turnover on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. (Luisa Cabato|INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday reasserted his directive to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to focus charity work.
Marcos issued the order during the ceremonial turnover of 90 patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to various local government units in Cebu, Bohol, Pangasinan, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, and Rizal.
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“When I sat down and Mel Robles was there, and I told him when he was placed in the PCSO, my order to him was to bring the PCSO back to charity work,” Marcos said in his speech.
“Because when we look at the expenditure of the PCSO, the charity work is reduced and the PCSO goes to other work,” he added.
The turnover of 90 PTVs was in line with the celebration of the PCSO’s 90th anniversary.
It was provided under the government’s Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program, which aims to immediately and safely transport the patients to, from, and between locations with most efficient access to places of treatment by land, water, and areas of rough and mountainous terrain.