THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office( PCSO) has turned over nearly P1 billion to local government units across the country to augment their funds for health and medical services.

“Umaabot sa halos isang bilyong piso ang nai-remit natin sa mga LGU upang matustusan ang kanilang serbisyong pangkalusugan at medikal para sa mamamayan. Umaasa tayong ngayong bumabangon tayong muli sa pandemya ay mas tataas pa ito,” said PCSO chairman Junie Cua.

According to the PCSO 2022 Accomplishment Report, the LGUs received P948,173,268.75 in shares from lotto and small town lottery proceeds.

Lotto shares amounted to P395,224,629.26, while STL shares received by LGUs amounted to P552,948,639.49.

The PCSO is mandated to share the proceeds to LGUs where lotto tickets are sold, with cities and municipalities receiving 5 percent, while provinces receive 2 percent.

“Ang pag-remit namin ng lotto shares ay sang-ayon sa Executive Order No. 357-A, na nagtatakdang dapat may matanggap mula sa Charity Fund ang mga LGU. Samantala, 2020 STL Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations naman ang basehan para sa STL shares,” Cua added.

The chairman said these shares provide a crucial boost to LGUs so they could serve their constituencies better.

“Malaki ang ambag ng dagdag na pondo na ito para mas marami pang Pilipino ang makadama ng kalinga ng pamahalaan,” he said.

Cua added that in accordance with Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s directives, the PCSO will strive to become stronger partners of LGUs in service delivery.

“Nagsisikap po kami para mapaigting ang paglilingkod, hindi lang sa pamamagitan ng lotto at STL shares, kundi pati na rin sa mandato naming tumulong sa pamamagitan ng medical assistance at iba’t ibang institutional partnership. Mayroon tayong 72 branches sa buong bansa na handang tulungan ang mga lumalapit nating kababayan,” he said.

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Arlene Rivera