PCSO continues innovations

By Robbie Pangilinan

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has sealed an agreement with 19 private hospitals for its Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP).

This is PCSO’s response to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s call for a Universal Health Care for all Filipinos, also known as Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (KP) to ensure that all Filipinos have access to quality health services that are efficiently delivered, equitably distributed, fairly financed and appropriately utilized by an informed and empowered public.

The 19 hospitals are Alabang Medical Clinic, Capitol Medical Center, Colinas Verdes Hospital Managers Corp. (formerly Cardinal Santos Medical Center), Dr.  Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital, Delos Santos Medical Center, Manila Adventist Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, Marikina Valley Medical Center, Martinez Memorial Hospital, Mary Johnston Hospital, Mary Chiles Hospital, Inc., Medical Center Manila, Medical Center Paranaque, Metropolitan Medical Center, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, St. Clare's Medical Center , St. Agnes Hospital, United Doctors Medical Center, and UERM Memorial Medical Center.

                Conceptualized in 1993 to address the medical and financial needs of sick individuals, the IMAP covers individuals from all walks of life, regardless of political affiliation, social standing, whether he is a member or non-member of Philhealth, as well as HMO cardholders.

The program uses a standard rate in the processing of financial assistance to ensure the rational allocation of resources to marginalized individuals who come for assistance to PCSO.

“Over the years, the program is on constant look out for innovations to effectively deliver services to a wider scale of beneficiaries putting emphasis on the role of the agency of augmenting to the medical needs of our clientele,” reports PCSO Chairman Margie Juico.

The PCSO is the principal government agency for raising and providing funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character. In adherence to its main thrust of providing funds for health programs and other charities, the PCSO is engaged in various social welfare and development programs.

“Our mission is to provide timely and responsive health and welfare assistances, hence, we are constantly on the look out to improve and upgrade our services to the public,” ends Chairman Juico. 

PCSO saves great deal in first half of the year

By Robbie Pangilinan

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)’s on-line lottery sector has surpassed itself yet again in savings for January to June 2013.
               A total of P149,078,507.93 in savings was generated from rental expenses, equipment leave agreement and thermal and bet slips (paper for lotto bets and receipts for lotto payments).

PCSO Chairman Margarita P. Juico added that the agency has also saved from streamlining of processes, institution of reforms, reduction by 20% of the cost of medicines from the lowest-priced formulary, rationalization of personnel, LGUs’ donation of office space for PCSO branch offices nationwide, cost cutting measures and judicious spending, review of our game’s prize structure and strict fiscalization, and negotiations with existing suppliers for a reduction in prices.

“The Board made a commitment to each other and to PCSO to do whatever will be beneficial to the institution and not to themselves and wasted no time in instituting internal controls, fiscal discipline and good governance. We revoked contracts which were found to be disadvantageous to PCSO, reviewed and revised board resolutions which did not sit well with what we intended to do, we did a time and motion study as well as a workflow of all processes especially the frontline services to ensure punctual, effective service was rendered,” shares the Chairman. 

Further, the once co-mingling of operating, charity and prize funds was segregated. Before, there was no way of knowing which fund was already used up. The segregation required a serious review of budget utilization, meaning spending within the limits as apportioned in a year. The PCSO also had an annual procurement plan based on the corporate operating budget as well as a review of administrative processes and financial policies.

In order to maintain this, Chairman Juico has the following strategies: “We are almost done with the rationalization plan of the office.  We try to put good people in positions of responsibility. We try to empower them with the right attitude and behaviour. We implement good governance habits so that long after we are gone, they can stand up against any board member or person who will make them do otherwise.”

Congressmen commend PCSO

By Robbie Pangilinan


Some members of the Congress commended the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for its good performance, as General Manager Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II presented the agency’s operational and financial highlights and major thrusts for 2012 and 2013, as well as plans and programs for 2014.

Rep. Isidro Ungab, Chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations led 21 other congressmen from other committees in giving praise to PCSO and also to Chairman Margie Juico for the agency’s accomplishments. “I salute Chairman Juico; she is more specific and strict on her rules. And we had a great time listening to her,” said Rep. Noel Villanueva of Tarlac. Chairman Juico and GM Roxas reported on the performance of PCSO for the past years and the current year, the outlook for the coming years, and the fiscal and macroeconomic assumptions used in the formulation of the agency’s budget.

 The chairman informed the House of PCSO’s distributions of revenue allocation from the sale of sweepstakes, lotto and other games for the past three years (2010-2012) and estimates for 2013 and 2014, including actual remittances to the National Treasury and mandatory contributions pursuant to laws and other executive issuances. Juico also reported about contributions of the PCSO to the National Treasury in terms of taxes, dividends and other remittances for the last five years, and the COA Annual Audit Report for FY 2012, PCSO Annual Report for the year 2012, FY 2013 Corporate Operating Budget as approved by the Board of Directors, and Fund Allocation for various laws as of June 30, 2013.


The PCSO is the principal government agency for raising and providing funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, charities of national character, as well as various social welfare and development programs. Chairman Juico reflects integrity in the way she leads the agency. From day 1, she has vowed to make her administration transparent and this trickles down to her staff, who she empowers with the right attitude and behavior. “We implement good governance habits so that long after we are gone, they can stand up against any board member or person who will make them do otherwise,” she shares.