PCSO extends deadline for 'Loterya' bids

Manila, Philippines - The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has set July 15 as the final deadline for applications for authority to operate the newly launched “Loterya ng Bayan” in various parts of the country.

Liza Gabuyo, PCSO assistant general manager for online operations, said the extension was made after several gaming companies failed to meet the deadline yesterday.

Based on PCSO records, as of yesterday 197 gaming firms across the country had filed their applications to operate the Loterya ng Bayan.

The applicants included 23 of 26 operators of the defunct Small Town Lottery in Luzon who wanted to shift to Loterya ng Bayan.

The PCSO launched the Loterya ng Bayan last February to generate more funds for charity and at the same time eliminate jueteng and other illegal numbers games.

The new PCSO management headed by Chairperson Margarita Juico is expecting the Loterya ng Bayan to generate an additional P12 billion in one year. The PCSO posted an income of P27 billion last year.

The PCSO charter provides that 55 percent of the agency’s income goes to the prize fund, 30 percent to charity, and 15 percent to operations.