PCSO limits aid to sick, needy

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office will limit its cash assistance program to the health and medical needs of its beneficiaries—for now.

The PCSO said it was implementing new policies aimed at instituting reforms in the agency and, thus, would not be able to support charitable and nongovernment organizations that rely on its funds for their operations.

PCSO Chair Margarita Juico said she was prompted to issue an appeal for understanding from the groups concerned after she attended a church service and heard someone ask for assistance from the parishioners because the PCSO had withdrawn its support from an NGO that helped street children.

“I hope they will understand that we are presently servicing our debts of P4 billion from the previous management, in addition to this current year’s payables. Hopefully we can settle everything by the end of the year,” she said. “However, we continue to support the medical and health needs of the [group] constituencies but not [their] administrative expenses.”

In January this year, Juico said, she issued a memorandum stating that all PCSO financial assistance to NGOs and charities of national character shall be used exclusively for health and medical purposes.

The following month, the PCSO board issued a resolution affirming Juico’s memorandum.

“It means NGOs requesting help from the PCSO would no longer be allowed to use Institutional Financial Assistance Program (IFAP) funds for administrative and other miscellaneous expenses such as water, light, transportation, honorarium, repair, maintenance and others,” Juico explained.