The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Monday said it has turned over a PHP834.2 million check to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in support of the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law. In a statement, PCSO general manager Mel Robles said the amount will be remitted to the Bureau of Treasury and will cover the agency’s contribution for the fourth quarter of 2022 and the months of January and February this year for UHC programs. Under Republic Act 11223, also known as the Universal Health Care Act, the PCSO must allocate 40 percent of its charity fund to help subsidize the national government’s health program. PhilHealth, a government-owned and controlled corporation under the Department of Health, was created in 1995 to implement universal health coverage for Filipinos and seek to ensure a sustainable national health insurance program for all. Robles said the PCSO is working hard to surpass its revenue target this year to raise more funds for UHC and the national government’s other charity programs. “We are committed to supporting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s goal of improving the country’s public healthcare system by providing quality treatment and necessary medical assistance to our poor countrymen,” he said. PhilHealth’s top executives, Eli Dino Santos, Renato Limsiaco Jr., and Ma. Emily Roque received the check amounting to PHP834,219,343.15 from PCSO Director Jennifer Liongson- Guevara and Assistant General Manager for Charity Larry Cedro at PCSO main office in Mandaluyong City last June 8. In 2022, the PCSO generated PHP57.39 billion revenue from its various gaming products such as Lotto, Digit Games, Small Town Lottery, Instant Sweepstakes, and Keno. As a result, the agency surpassed by about 125 percent its annual sales target of PHP46.1 billion. The agency has recently partnered with the Philippine National Police to stop the proliferation of illegal gambling, and in the process enhance its capacity to raise revenues which it would then use in its various charity programs.
Source: Philippines News Agency