MANILA, Philippines — Revenue from small-town lottery (STL) operations declined in 2019 by P6.2 billion, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) reported Wednesday.
During the House of Representatives Committee on Games and Amusements’ hearing on updates on PCSO operations, Gay Nadine Alvor, Legislative Liaison Officer of PCSO, said STL sales in 2019 dropped to P19.87 billion, from P26.11 billion in 2018.
In July 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the suspension of all gaming activities of the PCSO due to alleged “massive corruption” in the agency.
Duterte’s order covered PCSO’s Lotto, STL, and Peryahan ng Bayan.
The President lifted the suspension on STL operations in August 2019, provided that certain conditions are met.
But the short suspension, Alvor said, still contributed to the 2019 revenue drop.
Alvor said the PCSO has submitted a revised STL Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to the Office of the President.
The revised IRR was approved by the PCSO board last January 9 and was transmitted to the Office of the President for approval.