PCSO suspends lotto operations under MECQ areas

(PCSO file photo)

MANILA – The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Monday announced the temporary suspension of the draws for lotto games and operations of its outlets in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other areas that will be reverted to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from August 4 to 18.“In view of the pronouncement by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to revert NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna to MECQ from August 4 midnight to August 18, 2020, Instant Sweepstakes tickets, Keno, including the scheduled resumption of lotto operations in these areas shall be suspended until further notice,” PCSO said in a statement.

The lotto games operation is set to resume on August 4.

Last July 21, PCSO General Manager Royina Marzan-Garma said the resumption of the lotto games was only for areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ.

Based on the Lotto Circular No. 2020-004, the PCSO will abide by the health protocols of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) such as physical distancing and the wearing of face mask.

The PCSO will initially sell the Lotto 6/42 and Megalotto 6/45 games following its current draw schedule.

The lotto games have been suspended for three months due to the implementation of the community quarantine to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The agency also reiterated that the lotto ticket prices have been rolled back to PHP20.

Despite the absence of revenues since March, the PCSO has been aggressive in contributing to the national government’s medical as well as humanitarian response to the pandemic.

The agency has released a total of PHP6,731,595 worth of medical assistance to 895 beneficiaries as of July 9.

The Medical Access Program (MAP) is designed to augment the medical needs of indigent Filipinos, particularly hospital confinement, chemotherapy, dialysis and post-transplant medicines.

The program is funded by revenues from PCSO games nationwide.

Garma said amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis, the agency continues to provide medical assistance to the increasing number of indigents seeking help from PCSO.

“Rest assured that the agency will find ways to meet the medical and health-related needs of all Filipinos, especially the marginalized,” Garma said.