Manila: The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has mobilized large-scale relief assistance and deployed a fleet of Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) to support families affected by the Southern Mindanao earthquake. Thousands of essential supplies, medical transport assets, and emergency assistance have been sent to affected communities as part of the agency's ongoing disaster response.
According to Philippines News Agency, PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles stated that the agency's continuing response reflects its commitment to assisting Filipinos from the onset of a disaster through the relief and recovery phases. He highlighted the importance of immediate action in times of disaster to make a difference for families who have lost access to basic needs. PCSO, through its Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs), responded within the first 24 hours and continues to provide essential supplies, medical support, and relief assistance to the affected areas.
Robles emphasized the importance of supporting the President's directive for a swift and coordinated government response during calamities. PCSO is collaborating with partner agencies to ensure that assistance reaches affected families as efficiently as possible. The relief assistance includes Charitimba food packs, hygiene kits, evacuation kits, medicine kits, and PTVs intended to support affected families, evacuees, and communities recovering from the earthquake.
The Charitimba packages contain essential food items such as rice, ready-to-eat canned goods, and instant noodles. Each evacuation kit is equipped with necessary items like a mosquito net, towel, blanket, plastic mat, pillow, pair of slippers, and a hand-crank flashlight. The hygiene kits provide essentials such as a malong, deodorant, alcohol, shampoo, powder, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, face mask, tissue, sanitary pads, and a nail cutter.
Robles reiterated PCSO's commitment to providing ongoing support and additional assistance based on the needs identified on the ground. Early on Thursday, PCSO prepared its bulk relief cargo for transport at Villamor Air Base in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to ensure swift delivery. An Airbus C-295 aircraft, assigned for the initial transport, departed carrying Charitimba food packs, followed by a C-130 flight transporting additional relief goods.
The relief packs are designated for immediate distribution to displaced families and residents in Barangays Calumpang, Apopong, and Lagao in General Santos City, and communities in the municipality of Malapatan, Sarangani. In addition to airlifting relief goods, PCSO is deploying PTVs from Cebu to support affected areas in Mindanao, with specific numbers allocated to various regions.
The PCSO assured the public of its continued coordination with government agencies and local partners to support ongoing relief, response, and recovery operations in Southern Mindanao.
