The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has donated P500,000 to ailing sports icon Lydia de Vega, the agency’s chairperson Junie Cua said in a press conference Tuesday.
Cua said that the amount would be for De Vega’s medical treatment at the Makati Medical Center, adding that it would not be enough thus the PCSO is hoping there’d be a groundswell of support for her from other people.
De Vega’s daughter, Stephanie Mercado de Koenigswarter, received the check from PCSO officials in a simple turnover ceremony at the agency’s main office in Mandaluyong City yesterday morning.
Cua said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. instructed him to extend assistance to the former fastest woman in Asia, who is battling cancer.
“This is in response to the call of the President that we should help Ms. Lydia de Vega because she’s a pride of our nation,” the PCSO chair said.
De Vega won the gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the Southeast Asian Games in 1987, 1991 and 1993. She also ruled the 200 meters in 1981, 1983, 1987 and 1993.
She also bagged the gold in the 100 and 200 meters in the Asian Athletics Championships in 1983 and 1987.