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PCSO generates P18.63-B in 2020 despite pandemic

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

February 2, 2021, 12:02 am

<p><strong>PCSO SALES.</strong> Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Royina Garma delivers her speech during the inauguration of the PCSO Games Hub in Mandaluyong City on Monday (Feb. 1, 2020). She said PCSO generated PHP18.63 billion sales in 2020 and provided PHP2.85 billion for the government’s concerted efforts to help families affected by the pandemic. <em>(PNA photo by Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)</em></p>

PCSO SALES. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Royina Garma delivers her speech during the inauguration of the PCSO Games Hub in Mandaluyong City on Monday (Feb. 1, 2020). She said PCSO generated PHP18.63 billion sales in 2020 and provided PHP2.85 billion for the government’s concerted efforts to help families affected by the pandemic. (PNA photo by Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

MANILA – Despite the suspension of lotto games for three months last year due to coronavirus pandemic, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) generated a total PHP18.63 billion sales from its games in 2020.

During the inauguration of the PCSO Games Hub in Mandaluyong City on Monday, PCSO general manager Royina Garma said they also provided PHP2.85 billion for Duterte administration’s concerted efforts to help families affected by the pandemic.

“Alam niyo naman ang PCSO ay income self-generating at hindi kami kumukuhaa ng funds sa national budget. Fortunately, we were able to re-open our doors in July 2020. PCSO was allowed to resume its games in general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ, our sales resumed gradually increased. Although we had to slowly reinstating our games as the threat of Covid-19 was still very much present,” Garma said.

She said the PHP18.63 billion total general sales last year came from Lotto with PHP6.8 billion; Digit games with PHP5.1 billion; Small Town Lottery (STL) with PHP5.8 billion; Keno with PHP407 million; and instant sweepstakes with PHP522 million sales.

To boost its sales, the PCSO, Garma said, is considering the introduction of new games as well as online, mobile or text betting “in a year or two from now.”

“Yes we are now considering it,” she said. “Now we recraft the terms of reference ng new lotto equipment. Papunta dyan ang direction (That’s our direction).”

Garma, however, said they still have to wait for the legal opinion of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) to make sure minors will not be able to participate in the PCSO games.

“So we have to balance everything, regulate everything. Even if we go online we will make sure that's it's not 24/7 and then dapat merong mga restrictions, na dapat 18 years old ka or maybe if you go online, 18 years old is still dependent to their parents. Pag-aaralan pa talaga (then there should be restrictions, you should be 18 years old or maybe if you go online. It will still be studied),” Garma said. (PNA)


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