PCSO rings in 2026 with jackpot wins, relief aid for typhoon-hit towns

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) marked the first half of January 2026 with major jackpot wins and expanded humanitarian assistance, highlighting its dual mandate of rewarding bettors while funding social welfare programs.

Two Filipinos—one from Tarlac and another from Cebu—recently claimed multimillion- and hundred-million-peso lottery prizes, while PCSO also extended disaster relief to typhoon-affected families in Laguna.

A senior citizen from Tarlac became the lone winner of the ₱15.84-million SuperLotto 6/49 jackpot drawn on January 13, 2026. The bettor, who claimed his prize the following day at the PCSO Main Office, said he relied on a set of “alagang numero” based on family birthdays.

When asked how long he had been playing the lotto, the winner smiled and said, “Ay, panahon pa po ni Ramos,” noting that he has been a regular PCSO patron for nearly three decades.

He recalled that he faithfully watches the nightly draws on television and immediately sensed he had won after seeing all his numbers drawn. “Alam ko na po agad na ako ang nanalo,” he said.

Despite the life-changing amount, the senior citizen said the prize would be dedicated to his children’s future. “Ang napanalunan ay ipapamana na lang sa mga anak,” he shared.

Earlier this month, a Cebu-based bettor also claimed a much larger windfall after winning the ₱288.6-million Grand Lotto 6/55 jackpot from the January 3 draw. The retired winner said he had consistently used the Lucky Pick option for nearly 20 years.

He arrived at the PCSO Main Office accompanied by his grandchild, who helped confirm the winning numbers online after he initially doubted the result despite matching the combination at a lotto outlet.

The Cebuano winner said he plans to invest part of the prize in a business and save the rest to help secure his grandchildren’s future.

PCSO reminded jackpot winners that prizes exceeding ₱10,000 are subject to a 20 percent tax under the TRAIN Law and must be claimed within one year from the draw date, as required by Republic Act No. 1169. Unclaimed prizes are forfeited to the PCSO Charity Fund.

Beyond lottery operations, PCSO also continued its relief efforts by distributing 500 Charitimba food packs to the municipality of Pakil, Laguna, on January 14, 2026. The food packs, containing basic food items, were turned over at the PCSO Main Office in Mandaluyong City.

Assistant General Manager for the Gaming Sector Atty. Lyssa Grace Pagano formally handed over the donation to Pakil Mayor Ronald James Hidalgo, who said the assistance would benefit families affected by a recent typhoon.

PCSO said the initiative underscores its continuing commitment to immediate disaster response and humanitarian assistance, reinforcing its role as a partner of local government units in promoting social welfare nationwide.