MANILA – Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chairperson Junie E. Cua on Thursday vowed that the agency will continue working hard to be a reliable partner in President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s health agenda.
"We believe we are well placed in doing so (become a reliable partner), and the President and our fellow Filipinos can rest assured that we will do our part in contributing to the goal of having better public health services," Cua said in a statement.
During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, Marcos laid out his administration's new health priorities including addressing hunger and nutrition-related issues such as stunting and wasting; catching up on routine vaccinations for children; suppressing the rise of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS by ensuring early diagnosis and treatment and ample testing sites and medications; increasing the number and capability of public health facilities; and integrating primary care providers and networks for more direct and efficient delivery of services.
Cua pointed out that various PCSO programs could supplement these concerns.
He said the Medical Access Program, Institutional Partnership Program, Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program, Out-patient Services, Medicine Donation Program and Medical and Dental Mission Program, which are all funded by the agency's Charity Fund could provide additional resources for the country's health agenda.
In 2022, the PCSO remitted PHP2.7 billion to PhilHealth for the Universal Health Care (UHC) fund pool, in compliance with the mandate set by Republic Act No. 11223 or the UHC Act, for the agency to allocate 40 percent of the Charity Fund to subsidize the program.
The amount represents the PCSO's UHC contributions from 2019 to the third quarter of 2022.
"Sisikapin po natin na paigtingin pa ang trabaho upang mapalaki ang revenue, at mula dito, ang pondong mailalagak natin para sa mga programang pangkalusugan na ito (We will exert all efforts to raise our revenues, which in turn will increase our fund contributions for these health programs,)" Cua said. (PNA)
