New PCSO games needed for addt’l charity funds

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) wants to introduce new games in 2020 to raise revenues for its charity programs.

PCSO general manager Royina Marzan-Garma said that aside from improving their existing games, primarily the lotto and the Small Town Lottery (STL), the agency must introduce new ones to raise more funds.

“Our gaming department has to introduce new games and find ways for our existing games to produce more revenues,” Garma said in a recent press briefing.

PCSO revenues finance the Duterte administration’s flagship social services program, primarily the universal health care (UHC) and the establishment of Malasakit Centers all over the country.

Crucial to the plan is the opening of more provincial branches throughout the country. PCSO already started hiring employees for the planned expansion.

Garma said they are also reviewing the fees and the process of franchise applications to streamline their system.

Arnel Casas, PCSO assistant general manager for gaming, product development and marketing sector department, said the PCSO is counting on the private sector to help them come up with new games.

Casas said the primary consideration for the approval of new games is that these should not take away business or grab share from existing games such as Lotto, STL, Peryahan ng Bayan, Keno Lotto and Scratch-It sweepstakes.

Among the PCSO’s charity programs are the Individual Medical Assistance Program, which issues financial assistance for medical care; and Institutional Partnership Program for charity organizations like orphanages, homes for the elderly and programs that provide medical transport vehicles or ambulances to geographically isolated or disadvantaged municipalities all over the country. (PNA)