PCSO strengthens measures vs erring STL operators

PCSO strengthens measures vs erring STL operators

THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) warned small town lottery (STL) operators or authorized agent corporations (AACs) that they will be shut down if they fail to remit their payment on time and settle their debts.

Royina Marzan-Garma, PCSO general manager, said in a press briefing in Davao City that in adherence to the directive of the President, they will automatically suspend the operation of AACs if they have a standing debt with PCSO.

Garma said this is part of the stricter measures to prevent accumulated debt from AACs and encourage them to follow the STL Agency Agreement.

“We will be strict in our collection. Ang sabi ni Presidente, kahit pisong utang terminate. ‘Yon po yong ginawa po namin mula nong na-suspend at pag-resume ay inaral namin ang implementing rules and regulations ng STL. ‘Don lalo naming hinigpitan at nilagyan ng mas matibay na sistema at protektado ang gobyerno when it comes sa paniningil ng mga amount due sa government based on the contract,” Marzan-Garma said.

Since the resumption of the STL operation in September 2019, she said the 52 approved AACs out of the 87 have been religiously remitting the Guaranteed Minimum Monthly Retail Receipts (GMMRR). The rest, meanwhile, have yet to settle their debts.

As of December 2019, they have collectibles of around P1.5 billion from STL operators who failed to pay PCSO. In Cagayan Valley, they have accumulated debt of P1 billion.

“If you are very strict in the collection, they can afford to pay and besides sila ang nag set ng amount and nag bid ng amount,” she added.

In applying for STL, PCSO sets a conservative amount of how much they can raise. They have a computation depending on the voting population, economic activities, religion, law and order, and the presence of gambling in the area. From that amount, those who want to apply will have to bid.

For 2020, Garma said they will introduce new games to sustain their funds intended for health programs, medical assistance and services and other charity programs.

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