By DANNY O. SAGUN
PIA-Dagupan Infocenter

A PERSON seeking financial assistance from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) need not hide his financial status, the district head of PCSO Urdaneta City said Tuesday.

Ernieli Dancel noted that some persons asking for financial assistance from PCSO for their medical bills tried to hide their true economic status by claiming to be indigents.

“Just tell the truth,” she told the Pantongtongan Tayo radio program of the Philippine Information Agency over Radyo ng Bayan-DZMQ, clarifying that PCSO does not only grant assistance to the poorer sectors of society.

“Kahit na may pera o kayamanan siya pero naubos yon sa pagpapagamot at wala nang mapagkunan, puede yong pasyente na lumapit sa aming office para matulongan na mabayaran yong bills nya,” (Even if the patient has money or riches but has ran out of resources for his medical needs and has nowhere else to go for help, he can approach our ofice for assistance to be able to pay his bills), she said.

The PCSO extends help according to the assessment made by the office’s social worker, she said.

Needed documents are a letter-request addressed to the PCSO chair or general manager, case study report, medical abstract for identification of the concerned doctor or hospital, and the billing, she said.

The office does not grant the full amount but just an “augmentation” to the patient’s capacity to pay, she clarified.

The PCSO Urdaneta office covers Region l and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

On the recent transfer of the office’s supervision from the Office of the President to the health department, she said it does not matter as long as the office continues to discharge its function - to provide funds for health programs, medical assistance and services and charities.