Author Topic: DavOr officials want strict regulation of STL  (Read 235 times)

joan.ligalig

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DavOr officials want strict regulation of STL
« on: May 28, 2020, 12:08:05 AM »
DAVAO CITY -- The local chief executives of Davao Oriental have asked the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to strictly regulate the operation of the Small Town Lottery (STL), voicing concerns that it is building a culture of gambling, spike theft and other petty crimes.

Davao Oriental saw the mushrooming of STL operations in Mati City and municipalities that alarmed barangay officials because of indiscriminate placement of STL booths near schools, churches and along the highways.

Karen Lou Deloso, provincial information officer, said a meeting was already held between Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, city and municipal mayors and PCSO-Davao Oriental to air the sentiments of the barangay officials regarding the prevalence of theft and petty crimes since STL started operating last October.

Deloso said the STL operation has been the subject of complaints from the barangay, church and schools.

The officials are worried STL has adversely affected the image of the province, Deloso said. Though thankful of the PCSO’s assistance for medical of the province’s residents sourced from STL operations, the officials are worried gambling paves way for more poverty.

According to Dayanghirang, instead of buying food for their families, people are being tempted to place bets for the game thus, affecting spending behaviors of the people in the province especially the 4Ps beneficiaries.

“We have been trying hard in our anti-poverty efforts and yet we are allowing an operation that further pushes our constituents to poverty,” he said, emphasizing that it also defeats the purpose of lessening illegal gambling.

Deloso said PCSO has already promised to make necessary adjustments on the matter. These include the transfer of STL booths in less conspicuous places and dialogues between PCSO personnel and local chief executives.

Deloso said that from January to August this year, the PCSO has already released PHP6.6 million assistance funds for 1,915 indigent patients in Davao Oriental.

In an earlier interview, PCSO Deputy Manager in Mindanao Gloria Ybanez said Mindanao has 75 STL operators of the 92 approved by PCSO.

STL was launched last January primarily with the goal to increase revenues for the government and eradicate the illegal numbers game such as jueteng, masiao, swertres, last two, virtual two, and other forms of illegal gambling.

From January to September this year, PCSO already shelled out PHP44 million for the hospital and medicine needs of 1,800 patients-beneficiaries in Mindanao.

Ybanez said PCSO provides medical assistance amounting to PHP8.9 million daily. With increased revenues, PCSO records P13.55 million in medical assistance given to patients.

A patient is given of up to PHP50,000 in medical assistance per year.

As of September, the PCSO Mindanao branch has also generated over PHP200 million from STL revenues from its 21 operating Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs) all over Mindanao.

“Our 12 branches have issued guarantee letters to 5,531 patients, amounting to more than 44 million pesos (as of September), under the agency’s flagship program Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP),” Ybanez said. (PNA)

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