The Caloocan City government announced on Wednesday, Dec. 7, that it will allocate the P5,522,434.46 charity fund from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for the city’s rescue and public health programs.

The charity fund was personally handed over by PCSO General Manager (GM) Melquiades Robles to Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan on Tuesday, Dec. 6. It is part of the PCSO’s lotto and and small town lottery shares donated to various local government units to raise funds for different programs.

“Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa pagmamalasakit ng PCSO na pinangungunahan ni GM Mel Robles. Ilalaan po natin ito sa pagtulong sa mga kababayan na hirap sa buhay at walang kakayanang magpasuri o magpagamot. Ang bahagi ng pondong ito po’y makakatulong na maibaba natin ang mga serbisyong medikal sa bawat komunidad sa Caloocan (We are grateful for the concern of the PCSO led by GM Mel Robles. We are going to allot this funds to assist our people who are struggling in life and cannot afford to get medical checkup or treated. Part of this fund will help us bring medical services to every community in Caloocan),” Malapitan said.

He said the fund is also a big help for the city’s rescue operations.

“Palagian po tayong nagsasagawa ng rescue operations at hindi po biro ang pondong kinakailangan upang magtuloy-tuloy ito. Kaya naman malaking bagay po ito sa ating adhikain na iparamdam ang malasakit sa bawat taga-Caloocan, lalo na sa mga lubos na naapektuhan ng krisis, mga walang tahanan at mga biktima ng pang-aabuso (We are constantly conducting rescue operations and the fund required to keep it going is no joke. That's why this is a big help in our goal to show concern to every Caloocan resident, especially those who have been greatly affected by the crisis, the homeless and victims of abuse),” he added.

He also thanked PCSO for its previous P300,000 donation for the rescued individuals at Tahanang Mapagpala in the city, a shelter for the senior citizens and the abandoned/rescued children.

He said the donation was allotted for the health care of those who are in the shelter.

“Siguradong mapapakinabangan ng mga taga-Caloocan ang handog na charity fund ng PCSO. Mayor Along Malapitan, binabati ka namin sa iyong magagandang programa para sa mga higit na nangangailangan at sa iyong mahusay na pamumuno (The Caloocan residents will surely benefit from the PCSO's charity fund donation. Mayor Along Malapitan, we congratulate you on your wonderful programs for those in need and your great leadership). We wish you and the City of Caloocan all the best," PCSO GM Robles said.

Meanwhile, Navotas City Mayor John Reynald “John Rey” Tiangco also received from Robles the P1,086,280.46 charity fund from the PCSO on Tuesday, Dec. 6.,

“Ang pondo pong ito ay tapat at mahusay nating gagamitin sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa mga Navoteno (We will use this fund honestly and efficiently in providing services to the Navotenos),” Tiangco said in a Facebook post.

Read more: PCSO dispenses over P6-M lotto, STL shares to Caloocan, Navotas LGUs