THREE CHARITY institutions in Tacloban City received close to PHP3 million financial aid from Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
PCSO general manager Royina Garma on Thursday turned over the checks amounting to PHP2,890,500 to Orphanage of the Virgin of Guadalupe Foundation, Inc.; SOS Children’s Village Calbayog, Inc.; and Western Samar Development Foundation, Inc., in a simple ceremony in Barangay San Jose.
Joining Garma were Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Eastern Visayas Association of Lotto Agents (EVALA) president Mr. Arturo O. Gabrielles, assistant general manager for Charity Sector Larry R. Cedro, Charity Assistance Department OIC-manager Muriel, Samar Branch OIC-manager Edmund Kaizer Hidalgo and Leyte Branch head Lady Jade Palabon.
The Orphanage of the Virgin of Guadalupe Foundation, Inc. in Sorsogon provides home, security, care and support to 80 homeless, orphaned children and received a check amounting to PHP876,000.
Meanwhile, the SOS Children’s Village Calbayog, Inc. in Samar, which gives family-like care, youth care and educational support to 94 children and youth received PHP1,029,000.
Also, the Western Samar Development Foundation, Inc. helps 90 sexually abused children received an amount of PHP985,500.
Through the Institutional Partnership Program (IPP), the PCSO aims to augment the financial resources of institutions such as government organizations and non-government organizations such as orphanages and homes for the elderly and the abandoned.
To date, PCSO has been supporting 20 charitable institutions in the country under the program.
The PCSO serves as the principal government agency for raising and providing funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character.
The Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP) is considered the flagship program of the PCSO which was institutionalized in 1995 to provide timely and responsive financial assistance to individuals with health-related problems.
Aside from the IMAP, the PCSO’s other charity programs include the Endowment Fund Program, Institutional Partnership Program, Procurement of Medical Equipment, AFP/PNP Health Facilities Capability Building Project, Calamity Assistance Program, Milk Feeding Program, Integrated Health for Overall Productivity and Empowerment (I-HOPE), and Out-Patient Services Program (Medical and Dental Services), among others.(By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)
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