The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) held its 2025 Charity Summit at the Manila Hotel, uniting government agencies, NGOs, and civic partners to deepen collaboration in healthcare and social support.
Under the theme “Serving More Through Greater Collaboration,” PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles highlighted the agency’s significant progress since 2022. The PCSO has distributed nearly P8 billion in medical assistance, aiding almost one million Filipinos, including patients undergoing critical heart surgeries.
Robles also reported nearly P130 million worth of medical equipment donated to 14 hospitals and the deployment of 1,297 patient transport vehicles, valued at P2.5 billion, to 75 percent of the country’s 1,724 local government units (LGUs). The agency aims for 100 percent coverage by year’s end with 375 additional vehicles.
Key officials present included PCSO Chairman Judge Felix Reyes (Ret.), Usec. Monina Josefina Romualdez of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Director Ryan Joseph Sarte of the Presidential Action Center, and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora who gave a message of support.
A focal session, “Compassion in Action: The Evolving State of Charity Work in the Philippines,” featured updates from PhilHealth, DSWD, and the Tzu Chi Foundation. PhilHealth shared enhancements to its YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan) program, boosting primary healthcare services at the community level via increasing the number of medicines and free cancer screenings.
Looking forward, PCSO plans to expand equipment donations, launch mobile health and dental clinics, and introduce sea ambulances to serve remote island communities. Robles emphasized that collaboration is vital to delivering accessible healthcare to underserved Filipinos.
The summit underscores PCSO’s commitment to multiply impact through partnerships, ensuring no Filipino is left behind in times of medical need.
