PCSO to introduce new games to raise funds

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is looking to introduce new games this year to raise more revenue for its charity projects and fund the Duterte administration’s universal health care (UHC) program.

Royina Garma, PCSO general manager, said that aside from Lotto and Small Town Lottery (STL) games, the agency has to develop new games to generate more funds.

“We need to introduce new games and find ways to produce more revenues,” Garma told reporters in a recent press briefing.

Arnel Casas, PCSO assistant general manager for gaming, product development and marketing sector department, said the agency is counting on the private sector to help them come up with new games.

Casas said they have streamlined the process for franchise applications for private gaming firms to submit proposals.

The new games should not grab shares from the existing PCSO games such as Lotto, STL, Peryahan ng Bayan, Keno and the Scratch-It sweepstakes, according to Casas.

Garma said the PCSO would continue its charity programs for the poor and provide financial support to orphanages.

She said the charity agency has allotted P6.1 billion for the UHC rollout this year and the Malasakit Centers in government-run hospitals.