BY MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced that it will conduct catch-up draws beginning Monday but maintained that its regular gaming operations will remain suspended until further notice.
The PCSO said in a public advisory that the conduct of the catch-up draws is for standard play and advance draw tickets sold prior to the suspension of its gaming operations last March 17.
“We wish to emphasize that the PCSO has not resumed its regular gaming operations,” it added.
Despite the conduct of catch-up draws, PCSO maintained that “there shall still be no selling, ticket validation, and prize claiming for the duration of the catch-up draws, as all Lotto outlets shall remain closed.”
The catch-up draws for standard play and advance draw tickets before March 17, PSCO said, will be broadcast live over the YouTube channels and Facebook pages of PCSO and PTV 4 and will also be on delayed telecast on PTV 4.
PCSO said it will provide regular updates on the resumption of its gaming operations on its official website and Facebook page.
The public has been clamoring for the resumption of Lotto operations and other games after the government relaxed its quarantine regulations.
In June, PCSO General Manager Royina Garma said that the agency has already requested for the gaming operations to resume and is awaiting the approval from the Office of the President.
PCSO said that the agency has lost “P13 billion in potential revenue” since the lockdown due to the COVID-19 situation in the country.
Despite the suspended gaming operations and amid the quarantine, PCSO continues to provide medical assistance to the public. As of July 17, PCSO has provided P35,766,240 to 4,955 beneficiaries through its Medical Access Program. (Merlina Hernando-Malipot)
