THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has expanded the operations of the Small Town Lottery nationwide in a bid to generate more funds for charity programs aimed at helping poor Filipinos and help President Rodrigo Duterte’s drive against criminality.
At the press launch of the project in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday, PCSO chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz said aside from generating more revenues, the expanded STL operations may also put a stop to illegal numbers games and provide illegal gambling operators and workers a legal source of income.
“Answering the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to eliminate illegal gambling and stop corruption in the country, PCSO expands its STL operations from 18 areas since it started in 2006 to 56 areas nationwide this year,” he said.
“Aside from curbing the proliferation of illegal gambling, the expansion of STL also aims to increase the revenues of PCSO to more than P27 billion in 2017 from the mere P4.7 billion in 2015 and P6.4 billion in 2016,” Corpuz said.
“The expected STL sales in 2017 shall mean more charity funds for PCSO and will subsequently translate into more beneficiaries of the various health, medical and charitable programs of PCSO including the Individual Medical Assistance Program, assistance for medicines and medical supplies, Medical and Dental Mission and Ambulance Donation Program, among others,” Corpuz said.
Corpuz said the operation of the more than 50 STL outlets is the agency’s way of helping the government’s anti-illegal gambling drive.
On the other hand, PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan urged the public for their support to be able to curb illegal gambling activities.
“We also encourage civil society groups, non-government organizations and church institutions to join hands with us in this battle of stopping illegal gambling and corruption,” he said.
With this, he warned those who are engaged in illegal gambling operations to stop their illegal activities or face arrest.
“To all illegal gambling operators, your minions and protectors, your days are numbered. I’m warning you, “you can run but you cannot hide.” Go legal or else we will arrest you and file appropriate charges against you,” the PCSO official added.
Earlier this year, the 56 Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs) were approved by the PCSO Governing Board to operate the expansion of STL nationwide.
Prior to the approval of the 56 AACs, there were only 18 STL AACs in 14 provinces and four cities in the country.
The PCSO will be accepting applications for the STL operations until Feb. 16.