Lotto to resume in 3 Bicol provinces on Aug. 4

LEGAZPI CITY—The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) reported that lotto gaming would start on Aug. 4 in three Bicol provinces.

Sandra Cam, PCSO board of director, said by phone on Friday that the PCSO board has given the green light to resume lotto operations in the provinces of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon.

According to Cam, lotto and Small Town Lottery (STL) games in Albay province were put on hold after no winning bidders have been declared while operational issues were yet to be resolved with the provincial government and 18 local government units.

Masbate province had not been allowed to operate STL while in Catanduanes province, the PCSO is still setting up gaming health protocols, particularly enforcing the physical distancing guidelines.

“We will open Catanduanes as soon as the guidelines are established,” Cam said.

“First to start would be the lotto and if operation would go smoothly, next in line would be the STL and other gaming draws,” Cam added.

She said the PCSO board decided to open anew its gaming draws in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ after the PCSO suffered huge economic losses during the five months of lockdown to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“The reopening of our gaming operation would help in recovering our revenue losses and to sustain the [PCSO] humanitarian assistance program,” she said. —MAR S. ARGUELLES