PhilHealth chief meets with hospital groups to increase access points and address provider concerns

by Info @Brand Zone | Feb. 20, 2025

PhilHealth PR No. 2025-08 | February 20, 2025 | Reference:  Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas

Pasig City, Philippines – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), under the leadership of Acting President and CEO, Dr. Edwin M. Mercado, held a consultation meeting with the country’s leading private hospital groups and national associations. The brief meeting focused on PhilHealth’s commitment to improving its efficiency, addressing wastage, and optimizing processes to ensure that hospitals receive timely payments for their claims.

Attendees included heads and representatives from the Metro Pacific Health Corporation, Mount Grace Hospital Group, Unilab Foundation, AC Health, St. Luke’s Medical Center, The Medical City, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc., and Philippine Hospital Association. 

Dr. Mercado and the hospital executives also mutually agreed to take on the challenge of increasing access points for primary care. The hospitals taking on primary care will facilitate the completion of Health Care Provider Networks (HCPNs) which will bring us closer to achieving Universal Health Care for every Filipino. 

“We recognize the significant role that private hospitals play in delivering quality healthcare services to Filipinos. We can only leverage their capacities when we build a sphere of trust and effective coordination”, said Dr. Mercado.

Next on his priority list to meet are the government hospitals, both DOH and LGU-managed. With continued stakeholder engagement across the public health community, we are creating a strengthened PhilHealth that can uplift healthcare financing in the Philippines.

#Rise30

#SamasamangPagangatParaSaBagongPilipinas

Housewife Wins P314.6-M Ultra Lotto 6/58 jackpot with Lucky Pick

by Info @Brand Zone | Feb. 19, 2025

Mandaluyong City – A 59-year-old housewife is the latest multi-millionaire after winning the Php314,591,292.80 jackpot prize in the Ultra Lotto 6/58 drawn on Sunday, January 5, 2025, with the winning combination 36-46-16-19-23-27.

The combination was generated through a Lucky Pick (LP), where numbers are randomly chosen by a system.

The lone winner purchased her ticket at an outlet inside SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. She recounted that she and her relatives were window shopping when they came across the lotto outlet and decided to place a bet on a whim. It was only the following day, after viewing the lotto results on the PCSO Online Games Hub Facebook page, that she discovered her life-changing win.

She claimed her prize on February 5, 2025, at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Main Office in Mandaluyong City. A regular lottery player for the past five years, she plans to use her winnings for investments, savings, and to help her family and relatives.

“Sa mga mananaya po kagaya ko, taya lang po nang taya kung may budget kasi totoong may swerte pong dumarating. Isipin din po natin na nakakatulong tayo sa ganitong paraan sa ating kapwa,” she shared. 

Under PCSO guidelines, jackpot winners must present the original signed winning ticket and two valid government-issued IDs at the PCSO Main Office to claim their prize. 

As mandated by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, prizes exceeding Php10,000 are subject to a 20% tax deduction. Winners have one (1) year from the draw date to claim their winnings; otherwise, the same will be forfeited and added to the PCSO Charity Fund to support various charitable programs.

The Ultra Lotto 6/58 draws take place every Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday at 9:00 PM and are broadcast live on IBC-13, D8TV, and the PCSO Games Online Hub Facebook page.

“Sa Bawat Taya, May Kawanggawa”

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Lotto patron from Samar bags P25-M MegaLotto 6/45 jackpot

By: Justin B. Santos/ Photos by Edwin B. Lovino and Ericson L. Delos Reyes

Mandaluyong City. A native from Samar won the P25-million jackpot of the MegaLotto 6/45 drawn on Monday, Feb. 03, with the winning combination 31  -  04 -  17 - 07 - 19 - 27.

He immediately claimed his winnings at the PCSO Main Office in Mandaluyong City the day after the draw, Feb. 04, 2025.

The winner shared that he has been betting on the same combination since 1996. He has won minor prizes on two separate occasions, hitting four and five out of the six-number combination. 

“Bago naman ako nanalo natuklasan ko na ang PCSO ay may mga progragmang pang-kawanggawa tulad ng medical assistance sa mga less fortunate nating kababayan, mga ambulansya na nakikita ko sa mga probinsya at marami pang iba. Kahit po hindi ako nananalo alam ko na nakaka-ambag ako sa kanilang magagandang programa. Hindi ko akalain na ako naman ay kakabig dahil naswertehan ko ang jackpot kaya nagpapasalamat naman ako sa Panginoon na ipinagkaloob nya sa akin ang malaking tulong na ito.”

After claiming his prize, he offered a message to those who continue to doubt the integrity of the PCSO lottery games. “Totoo po ang lotto at eto na po ako nanalo ng jackpot. Kaya sa mga hindi naniniwala, ito po ay swertehan talaga, hindi po nakakababa ng estado sa buhay kung kayo po ay may extrang naitabi at sumubok sa isang marangal na panalo bukod pa ay nakakatulong tayo sa ating mga kababayan.”

The MegaLotto 6/45 draws take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:00pm and broadcast live on IBC13, D8TV, and the PCSO Games Online Hub Facebook Page.

‘’Sa Bawat Taya, May Kawanggawa’’

PCSO Distributes 50 Emergency Go Bags, 150 Hygiene Kits in Rizal

by Info @Brand Zone | Feb. 19, 2025

By: Mark Lester F. Tejada and Leila N. Valencia / Photos by: Ericson L. Delos Reyes

Taytay, Rizal – The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) handed out 50 emergency grab-and-go bags to participants of the Duster Fun Run held last Friday, February 7, 2025, in Taytay, Rizal.

These bags are emergency kits filled with items a person would need to survive on his own for several days after a disaster or calamity like earthquakes or severe flooding.

On the same day, the PCSO, through the office of Director Janet Mercado, also distributed 150 hygiene kits to residents of Barangay San Andres in Tanay, Rizal. 

Taytay Mayor Allan De Leon expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the PCSO saying, “I am grateful to PCSO for its unwavering support and active participation in our community activity, which aims to promote inclusivity and ensure equal access to resources”. Likewise, Barangay San Andres Chairperson Sofia Dela Rosa extended her deep appreciation to the Agency.

These initiatives are part of the PCSO's ongoing advocacy to provide aid and support to citizens through its Gender and Development (GAD) program.

PCSO, Hindi Umuurong Sa Pagtulong!