PCSO resumes processing of medical assistance requests

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) resumed on Wednesday the processing of medical assistance requests amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) placed over Luzon and other parts of the country.

All PCSO branches will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays given the curfew hours imposed local government units, PCSO Vice-Chairperson and General Manager Royina Garma said in a release on Thursday. Metro Manila residents should submit requests to the main office at the Conservatory Building along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City.

PCSO is processing requests for medical assistance for confinement and of outpatient claims for the availment of chemotherapy, dialysis, hemophilia and post-transplant medicines.

“The agency, adhering and complying to The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, emphasizes and strengthens this auxiliary role, especially in providing healthcare to Filipinos, bearing a part of the weight and augmenting government efforts in these strained and challenging times,” Garma said.

PCSO has donated at least P290 million to COVID-19 referral hospitals and approved the release of financial assistance amounting to P447 million to government hospitals, chargeable against PCSO’s Charity Fund, according to President Rodrigo Duterte’s report to the Congress on Monday.

The Philippine government has released over P132.2 billion funds in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as of April 9.

PCSO lotto draws and games have been suspended since March 17.