PCSO lost about P7-B in revenues due to COVID-19 pandemic

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) lost about P7 billion in revenues in the four months that its lotto operations were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its general manager Royina Garma said Wednesday.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras,” Garma said the lockdowns greatly affected PCSO’s revenue, which was meant for their charity fund.

“Mula noong nag-resume kami noong August 7, kumikita kami pero umaabot lang ng average of 15% lang ang sales namin compared doon sa expected na sales namin monthly. Supposed to be kumikita kami ng almost more or less P2 billion ng lotto sales per month pero ngayon, umabot lang kami ng P350 million per month,” Garma said.

“So ‘pag bumaba ang charity fund, bababa ‘yong nire-remit namin sa Universal Health Care, contribution namin sa Philhealth, bababa din ‘yong mga shares ng mga pinagbibigyan namin na mandated kami magbigay,” she added.

Garma said she is hoping that after a lone bettor in Quezon City won the Ultra Lotto 6/58 on Sunday and took home more than P300 million, more Filipinos will be interested to bet anew.

“Sana hindi lang ‘yong mga mahilig pong tumaya para suwertihin, ‘yong mahilig din sanang tumulong, bahala na kung suwertehin o hindi ay tumaya na rin sana ng lotto for the sake lang po na ‘yong pera mapupunta po sa charity naman,” she said. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News