PCSO launches Loteryang Bayan

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office finally launched yesterday the PCSO Loteryang Bayan (PLB), a new small-town lottery that would help generate funds for charity and would compete with and hopefully eradicate jueteng and other illegal numbers games nationwide.

PCSO chair Margie Juico, general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, board member Aleta Tolentino, and Manny Garcia, publicity and advertising manager, presented to newsmen the new logo of the PLB and distributed copies of the new guidelines of the operations and the safety measures that will isolate gambling lords from using the small-town lottery as front for jueteng and other illegal gambling operations.

“It is unfortunate that police reports showed that small town lottery (STL) has become a front for the illegal numbers games nationwide,” she said.

After the launching of the PLB, all existing STL operators were given until the end of the month to comply with the new requirement for the shift of their operations to the PLB.   

At least 26 gaming companies who were initially granted the authority to conduct STL operations prior to the launching of the PLB must signify their intention to convert their operations and comply with mandatory requirements as provided for in the implementing rules and regulations.

“The authority of any STL operator not signifying the intention to convert to PLB or failed to comply with requirements is canceled and their operations shall be considered illegal,” she said.

PCSO records showed that STL operations were launched in Romblon, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Southern Leyte, Leyte province, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Iloilo, Capiz, Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Sibugay province.

In 2006 when the STL was launched, only 12 corporations were allowed to operate in Quezon, Angeles City, Bataan, Laguna, Bulacan, Negros Oriental, Iloilo, Pampanga. Tarlac, and Ilocos Norte.

In 2007, new permits were issued for STL operations in Albay, Olongapo City, Batangas and in 2008 operations were allowed in Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Isabela.

Decline in sales

But instead of increasing sales, STL operations have resulted in a decline in sales from P8.4 billion in 2006 to P1.9 billion in 2009.

Under the PLB, the PCSO will create a committee that will review the applications to insure that only corporations with no links to gambling lords will be given authority to operate.

Any attempt of the corporation to connive with gambling lords would be a ground for the immediate cancellation of the permit to operate.

The House committee on games and amusement is optimistic that the PLB would greatly help eliminate jueteng and other illegal numbers games.

Adequate consultations

Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing, chairman of the panel, said the committee held a hearing on Monday with PCSO officials on the launching of the PLB, where he stressed the agency must make adequate consultations in drafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the new lottery.

“I suggested we have another meeting so that we can look at the new guidelines. But I think they (PCSO officials) have been doing extensive consultations and so far my committee has not received any complaints,” Bagatsing said.

He said the current STL has been on “experimental mode” for years and was found to have failed its purpose of eradicating illegal gambling.

“Definitely the Loteryang Bayan would give bettors a better option. Considering the integrity of the game, I’m sure bettors would prefer to go legal rather than illegal,” he said.

He said the Games and Amusements Board should also pitch in the campaign against jueteng and other illegal numbers games.

Bagatsing and Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez urged the PCSO to make sure the IRR have very little room for illegal gambling lords to wiggle in and conduct a nationwide information campaign on the new lottery. – With Paolo Romero