Despite the pandemic, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office was able to generate P18.63 billion from its “mga larong may puso” and helped it end the year just ended on a high note.
PCSO Vice Chairperson and General Manager Royina Garma told media members this at the PCSO headquarters as she disclosed the figures during a press briefing Monday.
“Fortunately, we were able to re-open our doors in July 2020, PCSO was allowed to resume its games in GCQ and MGCQ areas. Soon after, our sales resumed and sales gradually increased,” Garma said.
“Although we had to slowly reinstate our games as the threat of COVID was still very much present. Only selected games were drawn to give the players “breathing space” between ticket purchases,” Garma added.
The principal government agency for providing and raising funds for charitable purposes also inaugurated its newly renovated Games Hub, which is intended to showcase its gaming products. The hub will also serve as a gaming outlet where tickets can be bought and prizes may be claimed.
The inauguration of its Games Hub is in line with PCSO’s main thrust of reinvigorating the sales of its lotto and STL games as the agency was forced to shut down lotto draws and games in March last year, resuming operations in select areas only after five months back in August of 2020.
Despite the drawback, Garma said PCSO was able to provide close to P3 billion to the effort of the Duterte administration. These funds
provided immediate essential supplies to the stricken families whose
incomes were cut or to those who have fallen ill of COVID-19 and other illnesses even when the office had its income generation capability on hiatus.
All-in-all PCSO said it was able to provide funding for all its programs totalling P2.85 billion plus an earmarked P329.4 million for the Universal Health Care.
PCSO’s Corporate Social Responsibility was able to extend assistance to indigents and marginalized communities, and those suffering from distress or calamities.
PCSO reached 29,884 individuals through our CSR activities with assistance totaling P21.73 million.
“We are still dependent on our games… we have to patronize legal games. PCSO is not focused on gambling,” Garma said.