By Marita Moaje 

TIMELY EFFORT. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Melquiades Robles (2nd from right) leads the distribution of assistance to victims of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng in Barangay San Jose, Biñan, Laguna on Monday (Oct. 31, 2022). President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed all government agencies to join the relief efforts. (Photo courtesy of PCSO)

MANILA – The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) intensified its efforts to assist victims of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng in response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to government agencies to ramp up their efforts.

The PCSO started to send out assistance as early as Saturday.

On Monday, PCSO General Manager Mel Robles led the visit to Barangay San Jose in Biñan, Laguna, assisted by branch manager Lady Elaine Gatdula.

Laguna and the rest of the Calabarzon Region was under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 on Saturday.

Robles said he mobilized PCSO branches, including Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs) to send help to Paeng’s victims.

“Anuman ang kulay, aayudahan. Gaya ng palagiang sambit ng ating mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos. Sama-sama tayong babangon muli (We will help everybody. As what our dear President Ferdinand Marcos would always say, together we will rise again),” Robles said in a statement on Monday.

Robles added various relief efforts are being undertaken by their AACs to help the victims. (PNA)