Out of 40 Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) turned over by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to local government units last week, one each went to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Catanduanes Chapter and the Virac municipal government.
Mayor Sinforoso Sarmiento Jr. and PRC Catanduanes chapter administrator Reymund Reginaldo personally received the ambulances last Feb. 21, 2020 from Angelo A. de Leon, Executive Assistant of PCSO Chairman Anselmo Simeon P. Pinili, at the PCSO Satellite Office in San Marcelino, Manila. Also present during the ceremony were Philippine Councilor’s League (PCL) interim president and Davao City Councilor Dr. Danilo Dayanghirang, PCSO General Manager Royina Garma and representatives of recipient LGUs and non-government organizations.
In the Chairman’s message read by de Leon, Pinili expressed gratitude to the LGUs, hospitals, NGOs and other agencies for their unyielding support towards PCSO’s fulfillment of its mandate in being the principal government agency for raising and providing funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character.
“The PTVs that PCSO turned over today are meant to help and service patients who are poverty-stricken or lack sufficient money to transport themselves to and from medical facilities,” the Chairman stated, adding that each unit carried the logo of PCSO and all its games as a form of marketing strategy to increase publicity and sales because PCSO can only give what it receives.
“You are our partners in promoting our products so we may be able to extend our vehicle donation program to more areas in the Philippines that need it most,” Pinili said further, describing the recipients as agencies who want to give quick government response to the people.
He expressed trust that the units are in their very good hands who understand that the donated vehicles are for the people and from the people.