Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan on Thursday said revenues from the Small Town Lottery registered a whopping P12,336,974,971.04 in the first semester of 2018, up by 146.85-percent or P7.4-billion increase compared to the same period last year.
“Our P12.4-billion revenues in STL, which is 146.85 percent higher compared to last year is a testament of PCSO’s success in implementing STL across the country and the government’s fight against all forms of illegal numbers game,” Balutan said in a statement.
In 2017, STL earned P15.7 billion with 81-84 Authorized Agent Corporation-STL.
Balutan attributed the big leap of PCSO’s STL revenue to the aggressive efforts of law enforcement partners such as the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, and even the Armed Forces of the Philippines in going against operators and kabos of all illegal numbers game nationwide.
“We would also like to mention the cooperation of our local government units or LGUs in allowing the entry and operations of STL in their respective jurisdiction and to the public in general for accepting and patronizing STL,” Balutan said.
He admitted though that some STL operators or AACs are not successful in their areas of operations, resulting in shortfalls or their failure of remittance of the total Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipt as committed.
“But just like any other businesses, the first year of operation is a matter of testing the waters. There are improvements to be implemented in order to have a successful collection of PMRR. That’s why PCSO is revisiting the 2016 STL-Implementing Rules and Regulations [IRR] to address this concern,” he explained.
To address the STL remittances shortfalls of AACs, the current PCSO board reviewed the sales remittances of all AAC-STL with the following findings: inability to meet the PMRR (i.e., baseline STL monthly sales committed by operators to PCSO), poor sales, and inability to enter and operate in certain cities or municipalities.
“We also required all AAC-STL with sales shortfall to settle their committed PMRR by approving PCSO Board Resolution No. 0127 (May 2018) which is a soft-payment scheme for STL sales shortfall and termination of the concerned AACs agency contract by default of payment,” Balutan said.
The Board also introduced internal controls in the 2018 Revised IRR for STL which include issuance of Official Retail Receipt (ORR), provision for use of technology applications (mobile apps), reward systems for informants, enhanced oversight function of the PCSO board, and renaming of PMRR to Guaranteed Minimum Monthly Retail Receipts.
The 2018 revised IRR for STL was submitted to the Office of the President on May 23, 2018 and as of June 25, 2018, it is pending an evaluation at the Office of the Deputy Secretary for General Administration (ODESGA).
“Of all our gaming products, STL is our highest earner. Can you imagine its crucial role in contributing to the overall funds of PCSO? What I’m simply trying to say is that with more revenues STL generates, more funds will be available to support the agency’s various charity programs. In turn, more Filipinos, especially those needing medical assistance will be served by PCSO. So let us support STL,” Balutan said.
“We must remember, STL operators remit taxes to the government; jueteng lords do not!” he added.