Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña is calling on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to increase its daily capacity for applicants of the Medical Assistance Program (MAP), after comparing the queue to apply to the lotto. According to Cendaña, he received complaints of the difficulty of availing of the service through online queuing. The lawmaker’s team supposedly tried to register as early as 9:45 a.m., only to be told the program already exceeded its daily limit. “There is our call for the PCSO to increase its capacity in taking on these daily applications. Kita naman po natin ang naglo-log in dito ‘yung talagang nangangailangan,” Cendaña said. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/5/pcso-on-streaming-deal-with-digital-8-ibc-13-this-was-publicly-bid-out-1757" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PCSO on streaming deal with Digital 8, IBC-13: This was publicly bid out</a></div>PCSO Charity Assistance Department OIC-Manager Pinky Casas admitted to struggling with a high volume of applicants even at 8 a.m. To address this, the agency created a parallel system for the National Capital Region wherein individuals could email their applications. &quot;At 8 o’clock, sabay-sabay po ang mga napakaraming aplikante, which for the information technology aspect, talaga pong na-sa-swamp ng applicants ang aming system,&quot; Casas said. &quot;Kami po ay gumawa ng paraan para ‘yung mga nahihirapan doon sa online ay mas madali kung nagpapadala po sila doon sa aming isa pang parallel system– ‘yung NCR MAP na pinapadala lamang po naman nila ay mga email nila sa email address po na aming dinesignate para po sa mga applications.&quot;The MAP provides financial assistance to people with health-related problems, giving guarantee letters (GL) to health facilities that then assume obligations of an amount due from the client for services rendered. “Once we receive the request for the application, the GL is received by the applicant within 24 hours,” Casas replied when asked about the turnaround time for the system involving emailing. The PCSO’s budget for the program is at P5 million nationwide per day. Aside from expanding the daily capacity for MAP, Cendaña also asked for help in the fight against “e-sugal.”<div> </div><div>PCSO QUESTIONED ON POSSIBLE DUPLICATION OF PROGRAMS</div>Following questioning from House lawmakers on the possibility of some programs and services getting duplicated, PCSO General Manager Mel Robles said they coordinate with other agencies to ensure this is not the case for their Calamity Assistance Program (CAP). The PCSO communicates with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and also calls the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) “from time to time,” according to Robles. Robles also emphasized calamity assistance is not their core function, but their agents in each province are quick to respond when needed. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/10/03/22/one-of-655-grand-lotto-bettors-has-2-winning-tickets-pcso">2 of 433 Grand Lotto winning tickets belong to one person: PCSO GM</a></div>“With regards to NDRRMC, we coordinate po with them. Sometimes we arrange for the airlifting and the mobilization… SA DSWD po, we call them from time to time kung saan po ang puwede kaming maka-assist. Ang kanila pong capability far exceeds ‘yung amin po,” Robles said. Laguna 3rd District Rep. Loreto Amante also asked the PCSO about its Medical Transport Vehicle (MTV) Donation Program as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has a similar initiative. “Baka mamaya sa isang bayan ay halos mayroong bigay ang PAGCOR, mayroon ang PCSO, tapos mayroong pang mga bayan o siyudad na hindi pa nabibigyan. So at least man lang ay alam naman natin ang kakulangan ng pondo natin– at least ima-maximize natin na maging strategic ‘yung pondo ng PAGCOR at PCSO,” Amante said. According to Robles, their agency is in talks with PAGCOR on the matter, and they have a drafted MOA together on the PCSO helping PAGCOR on how it can distribute the vehicles efficiently.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña calls on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to increase its daily capacity for applicants of the Medical Assistance Program (MAP) after comparing the queue to apply to the lotto.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña calls on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to increase its daily capacity for applicants of the Medical Assistance Program (MAP) after comparing the queue to apply to the lotto.

House lawmaker calls for higher daily capacity for PCSO medical assistance program

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

House lawmaker calls for higher daily capacity for PCSO medical assistance program

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 20, 2025 08:55 PM PHT

Read More:

PCSO

medical assistance program

MAP

House of Representatives

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office

Akbayan

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.