GM Garma leaves ‘Larong May Puso’ legacy as she bids goodbye to PCSO

Leaving a legacy of “Larong may Puso (Games with a heart),” Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager and Vice-Chairperson Royina Marzan-Garma resigned from her post on a high note.

In a letter from the Office of the President signed by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea dated June 13, 2022 stating “on behalf of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, I wish to inform you that your resignation has been accepted effective immediately.”

The said letter also states that PCSO Chairperson Anselmo Simeon P. Pinili shall act as Office-in-Charge of the Office of the General Manager of the PCSO.

Since Garma assumed office in 2019 when appointed by President Duterte, she changed how the public perceived the games of the PCSO as just a mere way to gamble-that such games of the agency are games with a heart as they generate funds to help many indigent Filipinos in need of medical assistance, among others.

Garma has repeatedly rallied that patronizing PCSO games are similar to giving to charity with a chance of bagging jackpots worth millions of pesos.

Upon her designation at the PCSO, GM Garma created a complaints, comments, and suggestions hotline to give voice to the people asking for help from the agency. It was dubbed “Ipaalam Kay GM” 24/7 Hotline.

This sought to better address the needs of Filipinos asking help from the PCSO.

PCSO’s COMMENDATIONS

 Just last May, the PCSO was lauded by the Malacañang Palace for attaining a 100 percent resolution rate on all the concerns received through the 8888 Hotline in the first four months of the year.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country, the operations and games of the PCSO were temporarily halted for three months due to health restrictions imposed to stem the transmission of the dreaded disease.

The Malacañang has praised the PCSO, under the leadership of GM Garma, for being able to generate P18.63 billion in sales in 2020 despite its operations being stopped by the pandemic.

No less than Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo sang praises for GM Garma, describing her as very “creative” for considering the introduction of new games as well as online, mobile, or text betting in a year or two.

In line with President Duterte’s war against illegal drugs and in compliance to the obligation of PCSO for its mandatory obligations, the PCSO has provided funds to the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB).

In 2021, the DDB lauded the state lottery agency for PCSO’s contributions to the country’s anti-drug campaign and for being the government’s top humanitarian agency.

The DDB received checks from the PCSO totaling P41 million.

PCSO’s MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

In 2021, the PCSO released over P2.2 billion in medical assistance to a total of 272,390 indigent patients across the country.

Data of the agency’s 2021 accomplishment report showed that a total of P1.3 billion in funds for confinement cases of 134,033 patients; P628.8 million for dialysis injection cases of 107,891 patients; P236 million for the chemotherapy of 25,693 patients, and P18.3 million for hemodialysis of 2,397 patients.

Meanwhile, some 293 hemophilia patients got P2.6 million in assistance while 2,083 post-transplant patients received assistance amounting to P19.8 million.

PATIENT TRANSPORT VEHICLES DONATION

Many hospitals and institutions nationwide have been given Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) by the PCSO.

In 2020 alone, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the PCSO donated 294 PTVS to 164 local government units and 133 government organizations in 17 regions. The total donation amounted to P466.771 million.

GM Garma procured 300 PTV units from Toyota Otis in 2021 which were distributed to various hospitals and government agencies all over the country.

In support to the social services programs of President Duterte, GM Garma, along with the various PCSO branch offices conducted numerous outreach operations and distributed food and grocery packs to indigenous communities, victims of calamities and other indigents in need of PCSO’s aid through the agency’s Corporate Social Responsibility Project (CSR).

She was very fond of children that’s why she was always surrounded by kids during PCSO’s outreach programs.

THANKS PCSO EMPLOYEES, LOYAL CUSTOMERS

In her last attendance to the agency’s regular Monday Flag Honoring ceremony, GM Garma expressed her gratitude to all hardworking employees for their cooperation during her leadership at the PCSO.

She also thanked all the people patronizing the games of the PCSO that helps fund various charity programs of the agency.

Prior to her PCSO stint, Garma served as Cebu City Police Office director before she was named PCSO general manager.

Garma replaced Alexander Balutan following his resignation in 2019.

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