THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is targeting to raise their collection to P52 billion by 2020.
PCSO general manager Royina Garma said in a press briefing on Monday, December 16, at the Annex Building of SM City Davao that for this year, they already collected P47 billion, which is lower compared to 2018’s total revenue of P62 billion.
“By next year, ishi-shift po natin ang trend. We will have more focus on sales and marketing. We will be promoting our product like the lotto para magkakaroon ng opening of more lotto outlets and second ‘yong Scratch-It and we will welcome new games, other variations ng aming lottery games,” Garma said.
Last year has higher revenue as compared to this year because it was the year where the record-high P1.18-billion lotto jackpot prize was at stake.
“Doon namin nakita ang jackpot prize pala isa din factor yan kung bakit maraming tataya - ang jackpot ng lotto umabot ng 1 billion last year at kumikita ng mahigit P200 million a day ang bet noon kasi gusto nila yong 1 billion na jackpot ni Lotto,” she said. When someone won the jackpot, their sales dropped.
PCSO has several products namely Lotto, Keno, Sweepstakes, and the controversial Small Town Lottery (STL). The revenue generated from these games will be allotted for their charity programs like the Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP).
Garma said that they reviewed the fees and processes in applying lotto outlets in compliance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte on ease of doing business. They have removed unnecessary requirements as well as reduced the cash bond required before opening an outlet.
For their released assistance, she said that for 2019 in Davao City alone, they disbursed P400,000 for their ASAP desk per day in Southern Philippines Medical Center. On average, they also give P1.1 million per day for their IMAP with a total of P38 million per month assistance for those in need. This is excluded the P10 million assistance they gave to the local government unit for the Lingap.
“If we will be able to raise more funds then we will give more sa Davao City because mula nong nanalo si Mayor halos dumoble ang humihingi ng tulong kasi they expect marami ang resources dito. We are not only catering sa Davao residents even those other coming from other regions,” she said.
With the series of earthquakes here in Mindanao, the PCSO has also dispensed P10 million to the affected provinces and municipalities. They will add P3 million more for Davao del Sur and Cotabato.