PCSO: Ilocos Sur got 22 ambulances, other provinces zero

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Thursday admitted that while they only gave one ambulance or none at all to some provinces, they granted Ilocos Sur province a total of 22 ambulances from 2009 to 2010 alone. During Thursday's Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, Senator Franklin Drilon asked former PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte whether the agency really awarded more than 20 ambulances to Ilocos Sur alone. Uriarte claimed she could not remember whether the former board issued a resolution granting the said ambulances. Incumbent PCSO board member Aleta Tolentino, however, confirmed that Ilocos Sur was granted 20 ambulances under former Gov. Deogracias Victor Sevillano and two more under incumbent Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson. "Bakit kailangan ng isang (province) ng 20 na ambulansya (Why does one province need 20 ambulances)?" asked Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. But former PCSO chairman and board member Manoling Morato said the ambulance grant depends on the province's needs and whether they requested for it or not. "There are many ambulances... paano po sila hihingi, e nabigyan na po sila noong panahon ni Pres. Ramos (why would they need to ask for ambulances, they were already given ambulances by former Pres. Ramos)," he said. Also, he said that during the Ramos administration, they were able to distribute 3,600 ambulances nationwide. — LBG/RSJ/HS, GMA News