PCSO strengthens anti-corruption fight

By: Shelly A. Busque

THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) calls and reminds the public to be a part of the fight against irregularities, anomalies and corruption in the government. One of the preventive measures that the Agency has called out is to prompt the public to go through the right processes and to transact only in the identified PCSO offices in Metro Manila or branch offices with official employees and legible officials of the Agency in seeking medical assistance and other official transactions, such as STL and Lotto gaming franchising.

“We encourage the public to be aware, be cautious and report illegal transactions not only of those who are impersonating or posing as PCSO employees but also the employees who do irregular activities. Go to PCSO offices or branch offices for face to face official transactions. Do not transact outside or over the phone/text,”PCSO general manager Royina M. Garma said.“This is for their safety too,”she concluded.

For those who are seeking medical assistance, individuals are encouraged to visit PCSO Satellite Office at the Lung Center of the Philippines located at 6512 Quezon Ave, Diliman, Quezon. Indigents must submit the duly accomplished PCSO IMAP Application Form (available for download at www.pcso.gov.ph, or at the PCSO Lung Center of the Philippines Satellite Office, PCSO Branch Offices and hospitals with Malasakit Center)and bring any Government Issued Identification cards (Patient and Representative) such as Passport, Driver’s License, GSIS UMID, SSS ID, PRC ID, NSO Authenticated Birth Certificate, NSO Authenticated Marriage Certificate, Digitized Voter’s ID, Philippine Health Insurance (PHIC) ID, Senior Citizen’s ID, Government Issued Office ID, DSWD – 4P’s ID, and Student ID.

The Agency encourages the public to be more aware of fraudulent and acts of corruption especially towards public servants and report to appropriate government agencies/platform such as The President’s Hotline (8888) or anything concerns the PCSO. The public are also encourage to visit the Official PCSO Facebook page @ Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and to also address their concerns to “Ipaalam kay GM” which was launched in 2019 and can also be reached through call and text at official mobile numbers 0998-4068640 (SMART) and 0956-9654381(Globe) for faster response and action.

The “Ipaalam Kay GM” is an initiative of the agency’s general manager which aims to provide the public access to reach her attention towards imperative matters pertaining to PCSO like suggestions, comments, feedbacks and reports.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, meanwhile, during his 4th State of The Nation address in 2019 encouraged Filipinos to use the government’s 8888 hotline to report corruption complaints and anomalies in public services.

“No amount of euphemism can trivialize or normalize betrayal of public trust or any other criminal offense,”he said./PN