PCSO looking at new games in 2020 to raise funds

Royina Marzan-Garma, PCSO general manager, said that aside from finding ways for their existing games, primarily the lotto and the Small Town Lottery (STL) games to produce more revenues, the agency has to introduce new ones to raise more funds for charity. (File photo: Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office/Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is looking to introduce new games in 2020 to raise revenues for its charity programs.

Royina Marzan-Garma, PCSO general manager, said that aside from finding ways for their existing games, primarily the lotto and the Small Town Lottery (STL) games to produce more revenues, the agency has to introduce new ones to raise more funds for charity.

“Our gaming (Gaming, Product Development and Marketing Sector department) has to introduce new games and find ways for our existing games to produce more revenues,” Garma told reporters in a recent press briefing.

She said the games would raise more revenues for charity as most of its funds go to finance the Duterte administration’s flagship social services program, primarily the universal health care (UHC) and the establishment of Malasakit Centers all over the country.

She added that their focus next year would be on sales and marketing in order to generate funds to support more government projects.

Crucial to the plan is the opening of more provincial branches throughout the country next year. For this purpose, she said they have already started hiring employees for the planned expansion.

Garma said they are currently reviewing the fees and the processes in franchise applications to streamline their system.

Arnel Casas, PCSO assistant general manager for gaming, product development and marketing sector department, said that the PCSO was counting on the private sector to help them come up with new games.

Casas said the PCSO welcomes new game proposals, and have even streamlined the process for private gaming firms to submit proposals.

Casas said the primary consideration for the approval of new games was that these should not take away business or grab share from the existing games of the PCSO such as the Lotto games, the STL, the Peryahan ng Bayan, the Keno Lotto, and the Scratch-It sweepstakes games.

Garma said the PCSO would continue its charity programs such as their Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP) where they issue financial assistance for medical care to needy individuals, their Institutional Partnership Program (IPP) where they provide financial support to charity organizations like orphanages such as the Hospicio de San Jose or homes for the elderly, and even their program where they provide medical transport vehicles or ambulances to geographically isolated or disadvantaged municipalities all over the country.

Garma urged the public to patronize the products of PCSO as a large chunk of its revenues goes to charity programs.