Naga city: The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) donated PHP25.1 million worth of diagnostic equipment to Naga City General Hospital and committed to providing further assistance to help the facility qualify for Level 2 accreditation from the Department of Health (DOH).
According to Philippines News Agency, the turnover ceremony held on Thursday amid the Pe±afrancia Festival festivities brought additional healthcare support to Naga City as residents and pilgrims gathered for one of the country's largest religious and cultural celebrations. The donation, provided under PCSO's Medical Equipment Donation Program (MEDP), consisted of one digital stationary X-ray machine, one ultrasound machine, and one 2D echocardiogram machine.
The digital X-ray machine will support the timely diagnosis of injuries and illnesses, while the ultrasound machine will provide real-time images for assessing internal organs and detecting medical conditions. The 2D echocardiogram machine will help doctors examine the heart and detect or monitor cardiovascular conditions.
The equipment will allow Naga City General Hospital to conduct more diagnostic examinations within the facility, reducing the time, expense, and difficulty patients may encounter when traveling to other hospitals or private diagnostic centers.
PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles said the turnover reflects the agency's fundamental purpose of returning the revenues generated through its gaming products to Filipinos in the form of medical and charitable assistance. 'Every time we turn over medical equipment like these, it reminds us of the reason why we exist: not simply to raise funds through Lotto and STL, but to make sure that every peso finds its way back to the Filipino people who need it. Kailangan po natin ang mga equipment na ito para hindi na pumunta sa malayo ang ating mga kababayan (We need these equipment so that our fellow citizens won't need to go far anymore),' Robles said.
He said the donation supports the Marcos administration's directive to make healthcare services more accessible, especially to Filipinos who face financial or geographic barriers to medical care. 'As President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. always says, we have to bring healthcare closer to the people, and that is our mission. Sa PCSO, hindi po kami uurong sa pagtulong (We will not hesitate to help),' Robles added.
Members of the PCSO Board also inspected the hospital's intensive care unit facilities and assessed its additional equipment requirements. The Board pledged to immediately provide additional equipment needed by the hospital and extend assistance to help it meet the requirements for DOH Level 2 accreditation. Achieving the higher classification will enable the city hospital to expand its clinical services and accommodate more patients requiring specialized and higher levels of care.
For her part, Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo described PCSO as a critical source of assistance for Filipinos facing overwhelming medical expenses. 'We are beyond grateful, not just for these donations, but for what PCSO has been doing para po sa mga kababayan natin. Kadalasan, kayo 'yung last line of defense. Kapag kailangang-kailangan na, alam ng tao na pwede siyang lumapit sa PCSO, lalo na kapag sobrang laki na ng hospital bills (Often, you are the last line of defense. When in dire need, people know they can approach the PCSO, especially when hospital bills are too high),' Robredo said.
She also commended the agency for providing assistance regardless of political affiliation. 'And we can also attest to the fact na 'yung pagtulong ng PCSO, walang kulay ng pulitika. Kahit sino 'yung lumapit, tinutulungan (The assistance provided by the PCSO has no political connotations. Anyone who comes will be given aid),' she added.
Robredo said the donated machines go beyond improving the hospital's technical capabilities, as they will directly affect the dignity, security, and well-being of patients and their families. 'Mas makakapag-respond na po kami nang mas mabilis. Mas marami kaming maaasikasong pasyente na nangangailangan ng mga equipment na ito, at hindi na nila kailangang pumunta sa private hospitals (We will be able to respond faster. We will be able to serve more patients who need this equipment, and they will no longer have to go to private hospitals),' she added.
Robles encouraged the public to support the agency's gaming products to raise additional revenues for health initiatives, medical services, and other national charities. Through its mandatory contributions, the PCSO not only helps people in need of medical assistance but also provides funds to government institutions.
