PCSO eyes P50B revenues from STL operations

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — With 92 accredited agent corporations (AACs) nationwide taking charge of Small Town Lottery operations, the Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office anticipates meeting its target of P50 billion before the year ends.

PCSO chairman Jose Jorge Corpus disclosed last week that the revenues for STL operations already reached P38.8 billion from January to August, compared to the P39.5 billion total collection for the entire last year.

Corpus issued this statement during the inauguration and blessing of the P4-million Hampangan playground at the public plaza of Silay City in Negros Occidental, which was donated by the Super Lucky Beagler Inc, one of PCSO’s 92 AACs operating nationwide.

It came from the pockets of Filipino people who wanted to support “Kapwa Pilipino” in terms of charity, and not from the senators or congressmen, Corpus said. He added that PCSO disbursed P700,000 a day to all Filipinos, including the medical needs of an average of 500 to 600 patients at the Lung Center of the Philippines.

Aside from STL, the PCSO also has Sweepstakes, Keno online games and lotto. For a P20 lotto price, P6 goes to the charity, while 30 centavos of P1 bet in STL also goes to charity. If not for the STL bookies operations and other forms of illegal gambling, Corpus said the revenues for STL may further increase.

In Negros Occidental, STL operations earned P119 million revenues, while Negros Oriental posted a revenue of P48 million, he said.

Before he sits as PCSO chairman, Corpus said about P6.4 billion was raised by the government from STL operations.

Citing reports of the PCSO-Negros Occidental office, Corpus said it has dispensed P123 million in medical assistance to Negrenses from January to August this year, spending an average of P35,000 for each of the 7,884 patients, who had requested for assistance.

Even in war-torn Basilan, the STL operator turns in P500,000 a month to PCSO for charity program of the province.

In a related development, Corpus again reminded the Philippine National Police—which is also getting a share from the operations of STL in Negros Occidental—to stop illegal gambling, particularly the Peryahan Games in Bacolod City and nearby provinces, the authority to operate of which was terminated by PCSO in 2014.

“Their draws are not supervised by PCSO and they do not turn over any revenue to PCSO since 2014. That’s illegal, Corpus said, adding that STL is the only legal numbers game of the agency.

The PCSO and the PNP had signed a memorandum of agreement for the police to help in stamping out illegal numbers games, and prevent the operations of illegal lottery and numbers games, as well as other illegal gambling activities.

Under the MOA, the PNP has been tasked to report to PCSO of any person who attempts or offers a bribe directly or indirectly to any police officer in relation to the STL operations.

The PCSO is allocating 2.5 percent to the charity fund of the PNP and its offices, which have jurisdiction over the locations where STL tickets are sold.

On the alleged involvement of police officers and some local officials in Negros Occidental to STL “bookies operations,” Corpus urged the media to report to him such information, admitting also that he has already names of policemen tagged as protectors of illegal gambling.

Financiers of STL bookies operations in Negros Occidental reportedly earned as much as P1 million a day in daily operations. Corpus admitted that STL revenues may increase further, if not for the operations of illegal gambling.

Chief Superintendent Edmund Gonzales, Negros Island Region Police director, earlier said that they are still validating the performance of each police chiefs in the campaign against illegal gambling in the region. (FREEMAN)