by Lovely Laudette Gamba and Zarina Lastra

Butuan City (08 September) -- Hundreds flocked to Father Saturnino Urious University (FSUU) gymnasium Sunday (September 6) to avail of the free medical and dental mission of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Some 484 medical patients were consulted and provided with medicines while 67 patients have tooth extraction.

The activity is a nationwide simultaneous event. It aims to highlight the 75th anniversary celebration of PCSO and at the same time increase people's awareness on PCSO services.

Lolita Lagdo, 44 years old of Barangay Lapu-Lapu, Butuan City profusely thank PCSO for the free medical and dental mission. Lagdo who has nine children says the activity means a lot to her. She said it is a relief to her poverty-ridden situation.

"Nagpasalamat gyud kayo ko ug dako ani kay napakonsulta nako ug libre akong mga anak unya naa pa gyud libre nga tambal dako gud nga tabang sa ako. (I really thank PCSO for the free consultation and medicines. This a great help to my family)," says Mrs. Lagdo.

Mrs. Lagdo brought with her, her three little children, nephew and nieces to take advantage of PCSO's free medical and dental mission.

PCSO Regional Operations Manager for Mindanao Carlito Kho stressed that PCSO services do not end here today. He said that people can always go to PCSO office for medical assistance.

"This activity is conducted to simply highlight the 75th anniversary of PCSO and as well as increase people's awareness on PCSO services. But PCSO assistance does not end here today. They can always visit PCSO and we will always be willing to assists them on their medical needs," explains Kho.

Kho further revealed that those who cannot avail of PCSO services today because of some reasons such as bed-ridden patients, lack of transportation can text PCSO.

To send a text message they just type island/name/address/sickness/contact number and send to 3927276 for smart and 09394095001 for non-smart.

There messages will be forwarded to concern PCSO official in the texter's respective area so that it can be addressed by the PCSO office nearest them. This text information campaign is valid only today to highlight PCSO's 75th anniversary.

An estimated 100 volunteers from the Agusan del Norte Medical Society, Butuan Medical Center, 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade, ABS-CBN-Butuan and the local government unit of Butuan participated in the activity.

Volunteers include doctors, nurses, uniformed personnel and others. A separate feeding mission is also conducted at Barangay Libertad and Obrero where 1000 malnourished children from the different urban barangays of Butuan City were served with PCSO pospas.