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.
โ๐ผ๐จ ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ก๐ช๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐จ, ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐จโ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐๐๐ฉ๐๐จ,โ said GM Robles. โ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ง๐ค๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ข๐ค๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ง๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ค๐ฃ๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐๐ง๐จ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐๐ญ๐ฅ๐ก๐ค๐๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐จ ๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐ช๐๐๐๐ก. ๐๐ค๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง, ๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐จ๐๐ง๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ข๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ช๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐๐ก ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฎ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ซ๐ช๐ก๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ง๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ.โ
He also outlined PCSOโs efforts toward digital transformation, including modernized remittance systems, enhanced cybersecurity measures, and alignment with global standardsโinitiatives that are all aimed at strengthening operational efficiency and public trust.
โ๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ฎ, ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ก๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐ก๐จ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ช๐ฉ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ง ๐ฅ๐ช๐ง๐ฅ๐ค๐จ๐: ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐จ, ๐จ๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐จ,โ he added.
The summit featured distinguished guests and experts who tackled critical topics on responsible gaming and the fight against illegal gambling:
โข Police Major General Nicolas D. Torre III, Chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), discussed โBeyond Regulation: The Role of Responsible Gaming in Stopping Illegal Gambling.โ
โข Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) addressed the โChallenges on the Proliferation of Illegal Gambling Activities.โ
โข Ms. Fe Celebrado, Division Chief of the Product Standard Development Division (PSDD), gave an in-depth look into โResponsible Gaming Practices: Ensuring Fair Play and Social Responsibility.โ
โข Department Manager May Cerelles of the Information Technology and Services Department presented PCSOโs advancements in โDigital Information of PCSO Lottery.โ
โข Donald Limcaco of DFNN introduced โLottomatik: A New Betting Platform, Revolutionizing Your Lottery Experience.โ
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 PCSOโs vision of a transparent and socially responsible gaming environmentโwhere agents are empowered not only as business partners but also as champions of public trust and nation-building.