DZMJ Online Season 10 Episode 9 get an exclusive interview with Magdalo Partylist Congressman Gary Alejano, which will be running for Senator. In our conversation featured on the video are his main platform of government, most are incline to science and technology and the security sector.

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PCSO Board approves P24 lotto ticket consolation prize

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) through the Gaming Sector
announced on Tuesday that the Board has finally approved the request of the
gaming public to re-implement the P24 lotto ticket consolation prize.

“The Gaming Sector looked for ways where we can get the additional P4 para
naman maibalik ito sa mga players. Matagal na nilang request na ibalik,
dagdagan, o gawin man lang P24 ‘yung consolation prize,” said Arnel Casas,
PCSO Assistant General Manager for Gaming Sector.

The implementation of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law
in 2017 brought about harsh taxes to personal income tax, estate tax,
donor’s tax, value added tax (VAT), the excise tax of petroleum products,
automobiles, sweetened beverages, cosmetic procedures, coal, mining, and
tobacco, including PCSO’s document stamp tax (DST),

Under the new TRAIN law, lottery tickets were subject to higher DST
prompting PCSO to impose a new price scheme for Lotto and other gaming
ticket prices from P5 to P6, P10 to P12, and P20 to P24.

The TRAIN law also imposed a 20-percent tax on winnings of more than
P10,000 from Lotto, Keno, Small Town Lottery (STL), sweepstakes, and other
PCSO products.

Apparently, the low tier prize of the fourth prize (when a player gets
three correct out of six numbers), happens to be the same as the amount
paid by the player which is P20 where bettors can exchange their “winning”
lotto ticket for a new bet as this has been the practice for the longest
time. But with the increase in Lotto ticket price from P20 to P24, bettors
need to add P4.

“Salamat sa Board, kaka-approve lang last week so we expect na with this,
madadagdagan ang sales natin sa Lotto, which is P31,902,529,360 in 2018.
Request ‘yan ng players natin kasi gusto nila lagi silang may ticket dahil
may mga alaga silang numero. ‘Yung mga Lotto agents natin nag-request din.
Hindi man ma-increase ang kanilang commission, maibalik man lang ‘yung
consolation prize kasi this will redound to additional sales,” said Casas.

*Online, text betting to increase sales*

Casas admitted that the P63.55 billion overall PCSO sales in 2018 would be
very hard to surpass this year because it became very phenomenal.

“Napakalaking challenge ito sa ating revenue generation sector kasi
phenomenal, all-time high ang P63.55 billion. Paano po natin tatapatan ito
this year? Kaya dapat mag-launch tayo ng new and exciting game/s at saka
improve natin ang ating existing games para mas lalo pang maging attractive
ito sa ating mga Lotto at Small Town Lottery (STL) patrons,” said Casas.

He further revealed that the Gaming Sector is eyeing the implementation of
mobile applications or internet gaming of existing Lotto games this year,
especially with popularity of smart phones.

“Kapag ito [Lotto games] ay available na sa smart and mobile phones natin
or PCSO Gaming app natin na tinatawag, ma-ta-tap natin ‘yung mga ayaw
pumila sa mga outlets. Magiging accessible na ito sa kanila. Lalo na kung
malaki na ang pot, they can easily place their bets at maka-kalaro ng Lotto
games. Target namin ‘yung Class A, B, at C. Kung maging regular bettors
natin itong mga ito, ang laki nito!” said Casas.

Social classes are hierarchical grouping of individuals based on wealth,
educational attainment, occupation, income, etc. Class A and Bs or the
Upper Classes are moderate to big businessman, top executive; while Class
Cs are junior executives or young professional, semi-professional or a
middle level supervisor, small businessman, generally skilled or white
collar worker.

“Nung umabot sa P1 billion ang Lotto 6/58, ang haba haba ng pila. Kahit
‘yung mga walang bilib sa Lotto pumila din. Naging phenomenal s’ya. Kaya
talagang kung may easier, convenient way to place our bets siguro mas
malaki pa ang kikitain natin. Sales projection will go higher depending on
the reaction of the gaming public and untapped market,” he added.

Casas assured the gaming public that the agency, particularly the Gaming
Sector, will always protect the lottery draws to make sure they won’t have
glitches and the winners are always legitimate.

“Please continue patronizing our products. Asahan ninyo na ang main
objective ng PCSO ay makagawa ng magandang palaro upang makapagbahagi ng
malaki sa kawanggawa sa buong bansa na proyekto ng ating Presidente
[Rodrigo Duterte]. Lalo na ngayon na ang PCSO ang pagmumulan ng malaking
porsiyento na gagamitin sa Universal Healthcare,” he said.

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PCSO set to give P8B to PhilHealth in 3Q

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander
announced on Tuesday that the agency is set to give P8 billion to
PhilHealth in compliance with the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Program of
President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The agency will give 40 percent from the 30 percent of our Charity Fund,
which is about P8 billion for Universal Healthcare Program on the 3rd
quarter this year,” said Balutan.

UHC will catalyze reforms for the health care system in the Philippines,
particularly strengthening primary care services, through the Philippine
Health Insurance Corp. or PhilHealth.

UHC will ensure adequate funding through the Department of Health (DOH)
annual budget, revenues from sin taxes, Philippine Amusement and Gaming
Corporation, PCSO, and PhilHealth members’ contribution.

In 2018, PCSO has helped a total of 528,190 patients under its Individual
Medical Assistance Program (IMAP), spending about P10.2 billion for
hospitalization, request for medicines, chemo and dialysis sessions,
laboratory and diagnostic procedures.

“Suportahan po ninyo ang ating mga produkto. Iwasan natin ang mga illegal
numbers game para ‘yung pondo ay diretsong makarating sa ating mamamayan.
Sisikapin naming makatulong sa lahat at dagdagan ang ating serbisyo.
Pagagandahin po namin ang aming serbisyo at magiging malawak ang serbisyo
na ihahatid natin sa ating mga branches nationwide,” said Balutan.

Balutan added that the agency is set to construct its own Corporate Center
to be located at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City to
decongest its extension office at Lung Center of the Philippines, which is
catering about 700 patients per day.

“Sana maumpisahan na ito next year at mag-bi-bidding tayo. Dadagdagan pa
natin ng lima hanggang anim ang ating branch offices. We will continue to
help our indigent patients nationwide. We shall maintain the IMAP program
though ang batas ng UHC ay nandyan na, tutulong ang PCSO sa pagkalap ng
pondo sa PhilHealth.

PCSO Charter, or RA 1169, particularly on revenue allocation, provides that
the revenue of the PCSO shall be allocated to 55 percent for prize fund
(payment of prizes), 30 percent for charity fund (various charity programs
and service) and 15 percent as operating fund (maintenance and operating
expenses).

Charity Fund is divided into two: 60 percent of which is for IMAP and other
charity programs such as Ambulance Donation, Calamity Assistance, Medical
and Dental Mission, and others; while 40 percent is for mandatory
contributions of PCSO to almost 28 government agencies like Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Commission
on Higher Education (CHED), among many others.