Bigger prizes await online lottery winners

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced yesterday that bigger prizes await winners of the online lottery draws with the minimum jackpot of 6/42 Lotto and 6/45 MegaLotto games to be doubled starting on May 17.

PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II said the minimum winnings for the 6/42 Lotto will be increased from P3 million to P6 million while the MegaLotto prize will be hiked  from P4.5 million to P9 million, but ticket prices for the two lotto draws would also be increased from P10 per ticket to P20.

“These changes aim to increase revenues for the Charity Fund to extend PCSO’s assistance to more beneficiaries and to better serve Filipinos nationwide,” Rojas said.

A new prize and dividend structure for other games such as 6/55 GrandLotto and 6/49 Super Lotto will also be implemented soon.

PCSO is the government’s main agency that raises funds to provide health programs, medical assistance and services, and other charities.

The agency’s revenues are generated primarily from the sale of lotto tickets.

For every peso of income, 55 centavos goes to prizes, 15 centavos for agency operations, and 30 centavos goes to the Charity Fund.

PCSO assists nearly 1,000 patients a day nationwide, processing their requests for financial assistance for hospitalizations and treatment such as hemodialysis and chemotherapy.

The charity agency also extends financial support to institutions such as government hospitals and rural health units, orphanages, and senior citizens’ homes.

PCSO also runs other health-related efforts such as the ambulance and mobile clinic donation programs, where vehicles are given to municipalities around the country.

The agency also conducts medical missions by sending teams of physicians and nurses on request to various parts of the country.

In order to extend its services to more beneficiaries, PCSO is opening more branches nationwide.

New offices have opened in Surigao del Norte and Baguio City, bringing to 33 the total number of PCSO branches. In the coming months, branches will be inaugurated in North Cotabato, Bontoc, and La Union.

“We thank the public for patronizing PCSO’s games, and we ask for their continuing support for PCSO and for our fellow Filipinos who will be benefited by our agency,” Rojas said.