PCSO gathers lotto agents to push for responsible gaming, tech upgrades

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has called on its Lotto and Small Town Lottery (STL) agents to take an active role in upholding ethical gaming practices and combatting illegal gambling, during the 2025 Agents' Summit held at the newly opened Foro de Intramuros on 13 May.

In his opening remarks, PCSO General Manager Melquiades A. Robles emphasized the vital role of agents in promoting ethical gaming practices.

“𝘼𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨—𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨,” said GM Robles. “𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡. 𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙫𝙪𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.”

He also outlined PCSO’s efforts toward digital transformation, including modernized remittance systems, enhanced cybersecurity measures, and alignment with global standards—initiatives that are all aimed at strengthening operational efficiency and public trust.

“𝙐𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚: 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨, 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨,” he added.

𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀

The summit featured distinguished guests and experts who tackled critical topics on responsible gaming and the fight against illegal gambling:

• Police Major General Nicolas D. Torre III, Chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), discussed “Beyond Regulation: The Role of Responsible Gaming in Stopping Illegal Gambling.”

• Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) addressed the “Challenges on the Proliferation of Illegal Gambling Activities.”

• Ms. Fe Celebrado, Division Chief of the Product Standard Development Division (PSDD), gave an in-depth look into “Responsible Gaming Practices: Ensuring Fair Play and Social Responsibility.”

• Department Manager May Cerelles of the Information Technology and Services Department presented PCSO’s advancements in “Digital Information of PCSO Lottery.”

• Donald Limcaco of DFNN introduced “Lottomatik: A New Betting Platform, Revolutionizing Your Lottery Experience.” 

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

A Q&A session followed, allowing agents to directly raise concerns and suggestions to key PCSO leaders. The panel included Chairperson Felix Reyes, GM Mel Robles, Police Major General Torre III, and Usec. Gilbert Cruz.

In the latter part of the program, a Panel Discussion and Networking Session was held, led by GM Robles, Atty. Lyssa Grace Pagano (AGM for Gaming Product Development and Management Sector), and Remeliza Jovita Gabuyo (AGM for Branch Operations Sector). 

The session emphasized the importance of continued partnership, operational innovation, and unified efforts toward responsible gaming.

The summit reaffirmed PCSO’s vision of a transparent and socially responsible gaming environment—where agents are empowered not only as business partners but also as champions of public trust and nation-building.