DZMJ Online Season 7 Episode 9 get to interview a member of the Tagbanua tribe in Palawan, Lorena Abanes talked with Lupa Sug Monarch Raja Mohammad Ghamar Mamay Hasan Abdurajak Shariff Al Sultan Ghamar Bin Abdul Ghapar jamalul Kiram III with Queen Maria Makiling Helen Fatima Nasaria panolino Abdurajak Ju Xi Mulan on the Tagbabua’s version of the true origin of Lupa Sug and Minsupala.

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Balutan shares secrets to leading a successful agency

After successfully hitting its revenue, which is P63.55 billion, from its
target P60 billion in 2018, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)
General Manager Alexander Balutan shared the secrets to leading a
successful agency, despite all the challenges and detractors.

“The character I have painstakingly built through the years in the military
service along with the Academy’s motto of ‘Courage, Integrity and Loyalty’
are the most effective and powerful management tools in leading a
successful agency,” emphasized Balutan.

A graduate of Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983, Balutan
is a battle-tested Mindanao veteran and a former marine general who earned
the moniker “Mandirigma” in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In 2016, Balutan was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as General
Manager to help fight corruption in PCSO. “No need for a doctorate degree or luxurious titles if one has weak leadership and poor discipline/character,” he added.

Over the years, PCSO was plagued with alleged corrupt activities that even
the President described it as the “most corrupt agency in the government”.

“My battle-cry that time was touching lives, winning the peace. But up to
now, we are touching lives. Dati sabi nila, ‘Mandirigma’ pampaiksi ng
buhay, ngayon, pampahaba na ng buhay dahil sa mga tinutulungan nating mga
pasyente na nangangailangan ng tulong medikal mula sa PCSO,” added Balutan.

Balutan emphasized how valuable the PCSO products namely Lotto and digit
games, Keno, Instant Sweepstakes, and Small Town Lottery are in the
agency’s Charity Fund.

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).

“We generate funds for charity services of the country, health programs of
national character. That’s our mandate. We do not get anything from the
national coffer. We earn our funds through gaming. Ang tawag po dito ay
‘gaming’ hindi gambling,” explained Balutan.

“Kaya itong nire-remit sa atin na monthy PMRR (Presumptive Monthly Retail
Receipt) ng mga STL operators is really a big boost to PCSO’s 30 percent
Charity Fund that provides payment for hospital bills of thousands of
patients every day – patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation,
dialysis, those who are in need of implant and transplant operations, among
others. This is the reason why PCSO exists stronger than ever,” he added.

STL is a regular game by PCSO authorized by the national government through
Section 1 of Republic Act 1169; while AACs are corporations or cooperatives
duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or with
the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), respectively that applied,
been duly qualified and expressly authorized by the PCSO to conduct STL in
a particular area.

In a data provided by Branch Operations Sector headed by Assistant General
Manager Remeliza Gabuyo, STL has employed 314,596 employees as of December
2018. Of that, 13,720 are organic employees, 26,227 are sales supervisors,
and 274,649 are sales agents.

This workforce comprises those who could not pass the nitty-gritties of job
fairs because of their lack of education, old age, or they are physically
disabled At present, there are 86 ASAs (Authorized STL Agents) and 12 terminated
corporations.

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PCSO gives away P426M jackpot price over the week

A lone winner took home the P239.2 million Grand Lotto 6/55 jackpot Monday
night, bringing to six new millionaires in just eight days, Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Ferrer Balutan
said on Tuesday. Balutan said nearly half billion pesos, or P426,549,073 of jackpot prizes were given in just one week this month.

“This seems to be a lucky year for our lotto clients – which is a nice way
to start the year,” he said. Of the six jackpot winners, two hit the jackpot prize from the Ultra Lotto 6/58; two from Lotto 6/42; and one from Super Lotto 6/49 and Grand Lotto 6/55, respectively.

Balutan said the biggest jackpot hit this week is the Grand Lotto 6/55
where the winner bought his ticket from the lotto outlet managed by the
Lucky Circle Corporation located at the Lower Ground Floor of SM City Cebu.

Last Sunday, January 13, a lone winner took home the Ultra Lotto 6/58
jackpot prize of P58,472,458. The winner purchased his ticket from the
lotto outlet in SM Bacolod managed by Lucky Circle Corporation.

On January 15, another winner took home the Lotto 6/42 jackpot prize of
P48,204,764. The ticket was purchased in a lotto outlet in Sampaloc,
Manila owned by Anthony Young.

On January 18, a winner guessed all six numbers for the jackpot prize of
P49,500,000 of the Ultra Lotto 6/58 draw The ticket was purchased from a
lotto outlet owned by Rebecca Reyes in Novaliches, Quezon City.

On January 19, another lucky winner took home the P5,940,000 jackpot prize
of the Lotto 6/42 draw. Ticket was purchased at Panabo City, Davao del
Norte.

And on Jan 20, a lucky winner hit the jackpot of the Super Lotto 6/49 with
the jackpot prize amounting to P25,226,907. Ticket was purchased from a
Lotto outlet in SSS Village, Concepcion Dos, Marikina City owned by Juvy
Deligero.

“Gaya ng lagi kong paalala sa mga nananalo, use your money wisely. Huwag
maging one-day millionaire. Save for your future. Invest,” Balutan reminded
the gaming public.