The House Committee on Appropriations chaired by Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co reviewed Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) fund-raising programs for health and charitable activities as part of the deliberations on the proposed 2025 national budget.
Committee senior vice chairperson and Marikina City Representative Stella Luz Quimbo lauded PCSO’s support for the underprivileged, especially during disasters.
“Ito ang isa sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na noon pa man ay laging maaasahan sa pagtulong sa mga kapos palad at mahihirap,” Quimbo said.
The veteran legislator then sought assurance from PCSO chairman retired Judge Felix Reyes that the agency’s programs would align with the administration’s socio-economic agenda.
“Kailangan natin matiyak sa ilalim ng pamumuno ng bagong chairman ng PCSO, na masiguro na ang mga programang ito ay naaayon sa eight point socio-economic agenda sa administrasyon ng Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., at tumutugon sa adhikain ng Bagong Pilipinas,” the seasoned lawmaker explained.
PCSO’s plans for 2025 include establishing cancer centers and purchasing additional Patient Transport Vehicles and sea ambulances.
According to Reyes, PCSO’s plans for 2025 include developing new games, expanding satellite offices, digitalizing processes, establishing cancer centers and purchasing additional Patient Transport Vehicles and sea ambulances.
He also detailed PCSO’s financial achievements from 2022 to mid-2024, with retail receipts totaling P57.467 billion in 2022, P61.456 billion in 2023, and P30.976 billion in the first half of 2024.
For the Universal Health Care Law, PCSO remitted P6.202 billion from 2019 to June 2024.
“There is no definitive authority mandated to conduct the regulation of off-cockpit fighting.“
Replying to Deputy Speaker David Suarez, Reyes emphasized that there is no definitive authority mandated to conduct the regulation of off-cockpit fighting.
“Sa ngayon po ay wala pong malinaw na batas kung sino po ang may mandato upang mamahala dito. Pero siguro po ay maganda pong susuriin natin kung sino po ang may higit na kakayanan,” Reyes said.
He assured the panel that the PCSO has the expertise to sell and accept bets at permanent locations through its lotto operations, stating that taking on this responsibility could generate additional revenue for the agency.
“Because one thing we need to accept, number one, (is that cockfight betting is) happening. But the problem is, the government is not earning because they are operating illegally. So the question now is, for us, ‘how can we properly stop this, regulate and put it in such a way where the government can earn income?” Suarez asked.
The legislator also highlighted the need to address the P7 billion revenue loss and unemployment arising from the POGO ban.
“Maybe we can come up with other innovative manners, systems, games, wherein we can address the loss in revenue because of the POGO ban and at the same time, address the employment loss that is about 25,000,” the lawmaker concluded.
