Families who left their villages as Mt. Mayon started spewing out ash and lava pack a classroom at Guinobatan East Central School in Guinobatan town, Albay province. INQUIRER / MARK ALVIC ESPLANA
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has appropriated P30 million from its calamity fund to help the evacuees affected by Mayon volcano in Albay.
On Friday, PCSO Chair Anselmo Simeon Pinili said the donation is in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to augment the assistance during his recent visit in Albay.
The additional donations will be used for relief operations and calamity assistance for the provinces in the Bicol Region heavily affected by the eruption of Mayon volcano, Pinili said.
Under the PCSO Charter or Republic Act (RA) No. 1169, PCSO is mandated “to provide and raise funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character.”
READ: DPWH builds toilets and bath areas for Daraga evacuees affected by Mayon
In a statement, Pinili said the donations will be sourced from their yearly P100-million calamity fund approved by the Department of Budget and Management for natural and man-made disasters.
“Our office maybe undergoing some challenges right now, which I know we can overcome with everyone’s help, but I assure you we will uphold our commitment to the public in bringing health-related activities as part of the President’s Universal Healthcare Program,” said Pinili.
“I hope everyone keeps supporting PCSO and let’s try to make PCSO grow and be an office of the people.”
Early this year, PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan sent P5 million to the Province of Palawan for the victims of Typhoon “Vinta” which killed dozens of residents in the southern towns of the province.
In 2017, PCSO donated P6 million for typhoon Urduja victims in Biliran province; P2.5 million to Davao City; P1 million to Davao del Norte; P500,000 to Tagum City; P200,000 to Davao Occidental; P600,000 to Davao Oriental; and P600,000 for typhoon Vinta victims in Compostela Valley, and P5 million to Marawi City victims. /jpv