ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in Zamboanga City disburses P2.2 million monthly on various medical assistances being sought mostly by poor patients coming from the different barangays and even neighboring towns.
“We usually spend about P100 thousand daily, amounting to approximately P2.2 million in a month,” said Analiza Narciso, PCSO-Zamboanga’s chief financial management officer in a radio interview.
According to Narciso, the amount only caters to an average of 12 patients in a day, but in reality, more people come to their office seeking assistance on a daily basis.
“Some come to queue as early as 1:00 a.m.,” shared Narciso, adding “pag dating ng alas 8 ng umaga, ang haba-haba na ng pila, hindi namin mai-accommodate lahat (at 8:00 a.m., the queue was already long and we could not accommodate all of them anymore).”
“The 2.2 million pesos monthly allocation is really not enough,” she said.
In availing of medical assistance, priority is given to the indigents. However, in certain cases, patients from the average-income bracket may be accommodated like treatment of cancer through chemotherapy and other serious ailments.
Those needing medical assistance should prepare the following documentary requirements for submission to the PCSO: letter request to the PCSO chairman / general manager, medical abstract, bill/quotation/costing from hospital pharmacy / supplies, lab request / medicine prescription, endorsement/acceptance letter from hospital social services /credit collection office.
The PCSO is located in HC Marketing Building, Governor Camins Avenue in Zamboanga City. (PIA9)