By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA
MANILA — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Friday announced that it surpassed the PHP60-billion target sales for 2018 as it continues to strengthen efforts to fight illegal gambling in the country.
Based on data provided by the Gaming, Product Development and Marketing Sector headed by Assistant General Manager Arnel Casas, PCSO earned PHP63,557,912,238.39 in 2018.
Of this amount, PHP31,902,529,360 came from Lotto and digit games, PHP26,103,422,348.39 from STL, PHP4,397,969,030 from Keno, PHP1,149,124,000 from Instant Sweepstakes Ticket (PMC), and PHP4,867,500 from Sweepstakes.
“The official results are in, and I am very excited to report that STL hit PHP26 billion gross sales in 2018 from just PHP4.7 billion to PHP5 billion a year during the previous years. In fact, our overall gross sales is PHP63 billion, breaching our PHP60-billion target,” PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said in a statement.
“As you can see, ang laki talaga ng kinikita ng STL tapos sasabihin nila na front lang ng jueteng. Palibhasa, nawawalan na ng kita itong mga iligalista na ito. Next to Lotto and digit games, STL talaga ang nagpapasok ng kita sa ahensya na itinutulong natin sa mga kapuspalad na nangangailangan ng tulong medical, tapos sinisiraan pa nila (We earn so much from STL and yet they say it is just a front for jueteng. It’s because these illegal gambling operators are losing profit. Next to Lotto and digit games, it is the STL that brings revenue for the agency, which we use in providing medical aid to the needy. And yet they will speak ill of it),” he added.
Executive Order No. 13, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Feb. 2, 2017, seeks to “intensify” the government’s fight against illegal gambling.
The EO orders the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, departments of justice, interior, and information and communications technology to work together and intensify their efforts in curbing illegal gambling.
“I would like to acknowledge the efforts of our employees and branch managers for a job well done. Same goes to our Authorized STL agents, employees, (collectors). You are indeed partners of the PCSO in the fight against illegal gambling,” said Balutan.
PCSO Charter, or Republic Act No. 1169, particularly on revenue allocation, provides that the revenue of the PCSO shall be allocated to 55 percent for prize fund (payment of prizes), 30 percent for charity fund (various charity programs and service) and 15 percent as operating fund (maintenance and operating expenses).
