MANILA — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is now accepting applications for prospective bidders of Small Town Lottery (STL) for the provinces of Camarines Sur and Bohol, despite suspending acceptance of new applications elsewhere in the country, PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said on Monday.
Balutan said the board has decided to cancel the franchise of Everchance Gaming Corporation and PF3 Games and Entertainment Corporations to operate STL in Camarines Sur and Bohol, for violating the implementing rules and regulations set by PCSO and failure to meet presumptive monthly retail receipts.
He noted applications for both provinces will be opened until March 23.
Interested parties may now file their application at the Office of the Assistant General Manager for Branch Operations at the PCSO main office in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.
Balutan said PCSO would fast track the process of bidding to prevent illegal numbers game operators from putting up jueteng which was happening in Camarines Sur and Bohol, according to reports.
“When there’s no legal operator, illegal operators come in…When they take root, they will be more difficult to stop,” Balutan said in a statement.
“Illegal gambling operators and their local government protectors are out to discredit the STL program of the PCSO, but we will not allow them to succeed,” he added.
Balutan said the agency will continue to expand the program and hike earnings for the benefit of the public.
At present, there are 81 Authorized Agent Corporations (ACCs) fully operating in the different provinces and cities around the country.
The new management of PCSO under Balutan was able to raise the collections of STL to an average of PHP1.8 billion a month this year, compared to PHP20 million to PHP25 million in daily STL revenues from 18 provinces in the past years.
From 18 AACs, the number of operators rose to 56 in 2016 and 83 in 2017, and presently 81 operating with the cancellation of the franchises of Everchance and PF3. (PNA)
