CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz on Tuesday, August 22, attested that illegal gambling is non-existent in the province of Pampanga.
“There is no illegal gambling in Pampanga, I can say that aloud and with conviction,” Corpuz said during the blessing and inauguration of the newly-constructed PCSO Pampanga branch office recently.
Governor Lilia Pineda, Vice Governor Dennis Pineda, the provincial board members and mayors attended the event.
Corpuz said that Pampanga is one of the 18 provinces in the country which secured a franchise with the Small Town Lottery (STL) game of the PCSO.
He added that Pampanga has been operating STL for around 10 years now since it was introduced in 2005 by former President now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
STL, a numbers game operated by PCSO, is described as grassroots-based lottery which the proceeds go to charity.
Corpuz added that since Pampanga turned into STL, all their former illegal numbers games were accounted and stamped out.
He also explained the role of STL in the charity projects of the PCSO.
Corpuz said more than half of PCSO's revenue goes to financial assistance and the medical needs of indigent Filipinos.
Corpuz said there are around 56 local governments with franchised STL, including Pampanga.