Because of its landmark revenues, PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said the agency was able to remit P2.535 billion to the national government, making it the sixth among top Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) to remit dividends for 2018. The general manager said the agency is looking forward to further accomplishments in 2019 and assured the public that the agency will remain focused on delivering efficient and charitable services to all Filipinos nationwide. 

Besides being the year when two players from Luzon and the Visayas won the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Ultra-Lotto game’s highest ever lottery jackpot prize of P1.18 billion, 2018 will also be remembered by 61 other Filipinos who became millionaires because of playing Lotto.

The year also saw PCSO surpassing its P60 billion revenue target when it posted a total revenue of P63.558 billion from its various game products.

“We at PCSO are very happy that we surpassed our target for the year 2018 of P60 billion with our actual revenue of P63.558 billion from our various game products,” PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said.

“This is mainly due to the unity and effort of our dedicated and hardworking officials and employees, and to the unwavering trust and support of the gaming public,” said Balutan, who also marked a personal achievement when the agency opened more branches across the country.

More branches opened
“In 2018, we were able to open more branches to serve both the gaming public and charity beneficiaries who live in the countryside. To date, we have 67 branches nationwide, and more will be opening soon,” he said.

The new branches, Balutan explained, contributed much to the agency’s increased revenues with P31.902 billion coming from Lotto, P4.398 billion from Keno, P26.103 billion from the expanded Small Town Lottery (STL), P5.841 million from traditional Sweepstakes and P1.149 billion from Instant Sweepstakes.

Balutan noted that STL sales for 2018 was almost 66 percent higher than 2017 and that inspires the agency to continue its expansion in 2019.

“STL has a huge contribution to the revenue generation of the agency. Since we expanded it in 2017, there has been an overwhelming increase in our revenues,” Balutan said, adding that revenues increased despite the undue competition from illegal gambling operations.

Creation of jobs, increased beneficiaries
The PCSO has also been able to increase its Authorized STL Agents (ASAs) to 85 as of December 31, 2018, while there are 11,120 Lotto and Keno agents operating nationwide.

“The PCSO is not just committed in revenue generation but also in creating more jobs through the expansion of its games all over the country,” he said.

The agency’s increased revenues have allowed it to commensurately increase the number of Filipinos who were extended medical assistance under its flagship Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP) which had 528,190 beneficiaries through the year.

Aside from the IMAP, there were also 53 government hospitals that benefited under the agency’s Endowment Fund Program, 20 beneficiary institutions under the Institutional Partnership program, three medical facilities under the Medical Equipment Donation Program and two AFP/PNP Health Facilities under the Capability-Building Project.

While there were 9,234 beneficiaries under the Medical, Dental and Special Mission program, the agency’s in-house physicians and dentists also provided direct medical and dental services to 13,929 patients under its Out-Patient Consultation Program.

A total of 212 institutions, government offices and non-government offices received free medicine under the PCSO Medicine Donation Program in 2018.

“All these would not have been possible without the support of the Board of Directors and the dedicated employees in promoting our game products in order to fund our charity services,” he averred.

Calamity assistance
Balutan further informed that PCSO was also able to extend assistance to areas that were affected by disasters and calamities, on top of its regular charity services. Among the areas that received funds were Albay, Bataan, Bulacan, Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Ifugao, Kalinga, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya Manila, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Zambales.

Because of its landmark revenues, Balutan said the agency was able to remit P2.535 billion to the national government, making it the sixth among top Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) to remit dividends for 2018.

The general manager said the agency is looking forward to further accomplishments in 2019 and assured the public that the agency will remain focused on delivering efficient and charitable services to all Filipinos nationwide.

“Hopefully, before our term ends in 2022, there will be PCSO offices in all provinces of the country so that we can serve and assist more people seeking medical assistance,” Balutan concluded.

https://www.manilatimes.net/pcso-scores-2018-as-landmark-year-of-biggest-jackpot-produces-61-millionaires/500551/