The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO ) on Thursday donated ₱25.1 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).
Held amid the Peñafrancia Festival festivities, the turnover brought additional healthcare support to Naga City as residents and pilgrims gathered for one of the country’s largest religious and cultural celebrations.
Naga City Mayor Maria Leonor “Leni” G. 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,” 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,” 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.
“Hindi lang po ito ordinaryong equipment. It translates to giving our patients dignity, giving families peace of mind and ensuring na maaasikaso kaagad ang kanilang medical needs,” Robredo said.
“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,” she added.
PCSO General Manager Melquiades A. 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,” 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,” 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.
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.
