PCSO aid caravan sets sail for ‘Opong’, Cebu quake victims

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

As part of the government’s ongoing disaster response efforts on the heels of recent storms and a deadly earthquake, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) held a send-off ceremony for the aid caravan on Sunday.

The caravan is composed of 12 patient transport vehicles (PTVs), six wing vans, five dump trucks, and three PCSO buses hauling at least 18,000 “Charitimba” (charity pails), 4,000 evacuation kits, 664 boxes of medicines, and nearly 8,000 additional relief items.

Headed to Cebu to aid in the relief efforts following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that rocked the province on October 2 were three PCSO buses, 11 PTVs and five dump trucks, while a single PTV will accompany five dump trucks destined for Typhoon Opong-ravaged communities in Masbate. 

PCSO General Manager Mel Robles said in a statement, “This effort is more than just numbers—it is a reflection of compassion and unity.”

After departing from the LRTA Compound in Pasig City earlier, the caravan will travel on land and across the sea to reach the calamity-stricken island provinces in Luzon and Visayas, respectively.

This initiative, a collaboration between PCSO, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), represents a cohesive effort between various government institutions that ensures prompt interventions amid challenging circumstances.

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