The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) quickly sprang into action following the powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake that jolted the Davao Region on Friday, reaffirming its role as one of the government’s most responsive humanitarian agencies.
PCSO’s Davao Branch Office immediately mobilized teams in partnership with its Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs) — Jambhala Gaming Corporation, Felicity Games and Amusement Corporation, and Plutus Gaming Corporation — to extend emergency assistance to affected residents.
Originally bound for Manay, the earthquake’s epicenter, the relief convoy was forced to reroute to nearby Tarragona after the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that roads leading to Manay were impassable due to landslides and cracks. Unfazed by the obstacles, the PCSO contingent pressed on and became the first organization to reach Tarragona, which also suffered extensive damage.
Traveling from Mati City, the team distributed food packs and bottled water to more than 500 families in Tarragona, even as the area was struck again by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock later that night.
“PCSO’s nationwide network of 73 branches and Authorized Agent Corporations allows us to deliver quick, coordinated responses in times of crisis,” said PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles. “Our mission is to ensure that aid reaches those who need it most, as swiftly and efficiently as possible.”
Robles emphasized that PCSO remains in close coordination with local government units and disaster-response offices to assess ongoing needs and plan for continued support to quake-stricken areas.
He reiterated that beyond its lottery and charity functions, PCSO stands firm in using its nationwide reach and resources to help Filipinos recover from natural calamities.
Just weeks before the Davao operation, PCSO also rolled out aid caravans for communities devastated by Typhoon Opong in Masbate and the recent Cebu earthquake — underscoring its sustained commitment to deliver timely, life-saving assistance wherever disaster strikes.