Projected earnings
The previous leadership, however, seemed to have seen the letter “S” in glowing yellow only, discarding the bigger images in red, white and blue.
With retired Major General Alexander Ferrer Balutan at the helm as general manager, the PCSO - gardless of geographical roots, cultural background
Particularly noticeable under Balutan’s leadership is the fast processing of requests for ambulances by municipalities under the Ambulance Donation Program (ADP).
“There’s no color to the assistance. No such thing as yellow, red, blue or black or white. Everybody in need gets assistance,” he told in an exclusive interview.
While the agency’s previous top honchos did not to clean the house, so to speak. And in so short a time, many changes in the operations of the agency were made.
work outside without cleaning inside the house Corpuz. We know that in the previous administration, [the general manager and the chairman were not talking to each other and, so, no resolutions were issued]. The resolutions were needed to run the organization. What happened then was that the PCSO was practically leaderless. [Everyone was on his own],” the PCSO general manager said.
He added that just like any government organization, PCSO is and should be leadership-driven as it is mandated to generate funds for the government and, at the same time, shoulder the responsibility of supporting charities that are national in character, particularly medical assistance for the poor.
“Chairman Corpuz and I actually know each other personally. We were classmates at PMA [Philippine Military Academy]. It’s just that he graduated ahead in 1982, while I graduated in 1983,” Balutan said.
He holds a diploma from the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College Marine Corps University in Virginia and has a master’s degree in Public Administration from Manuel L. Quezon University.
A long-time PCSO employee said they are happy with the changes since the assumption of Balutan and Corpuz, crediting President Rodrigo Duterte for the much-needed revamp at the PCSO.
Balutan attributed the ease with which the changes were made to the PCSO under the new leaders being “mission- and service-oriented.”
In contrast, he said, “the corporate world and
“Here at the PCSO, we are service-oriented, so it’s just right that one with a military background like Balutan added.
STL as source of funds
Despite criticisms about Small Town Lottery (STL), the PCSO general manager explained that Congress approved operations of the numbers game as early as 2006.
For those saying that the agency is not authorized to conduct the STL, he said Republic Act 1169 explicitly mandates that the PCSO has the sole authority to conduct lotteries.
“Those in Congress opposed to the STL may just be turning blind as we were able to hit the nail on the head [as their own chamber approved it as early as 2006]. The reason for the brickbats is that many in Congress are oligarchs, as what President Duterte said, and they are involved in illegal gambling like and last two,” according to Balutan, referring to three illegal numbers games. The PCSO has 173,000 employees nationwide. With a total of 92 Authorized Agents Corporations or AACs, with 80 of them fully operating, the agency has grown to almost 600,000 employees, and with more AACs, that would mean having close to one million employees, Balutan said.
Where PCSO is now
The PCSO has expanded from 47 to 60 branches.
Aside from the Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP), it now has 86 partner hospitals nationwide from only 40 before, and is targeting 20 more provinces.
By the end of the year, Balutan said he sees three more branches ( Kalinga, Apayao and Biliran in Samar among them) “to reach out to more people needing assistance.”
Although it is the mandated income-generating agency for the government’s charitable services, Metro Manila.
Balutan saw the need for them to have their own home.
Under the government’s Public- Private Partnership, the PCSO was able to build one.
It has inaugurated its own building, back to its original location at San Marcelino in Manila.
In the works, according to Balutan, is the PCSO Corporate Center, where they intend to transfer by 2019.
Acquired from the Manila Club on October 8, 1962 for P1.8 million, the San Marcelino real property under PCSO’s name.
The agency was housed in one building there until 1995, when the head office was transferred to the Quezon Institute on E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon City.
In 2010, upon warning from the Department of Public Works and Highways ( DPWH) about earthquake risks, the head office was transferred to the Philippine International Convention Center ( PICC) Complex in Pasay City.
Because the Asia-Pa - ence (APEC) Summit was held at the PICC in 2015 and the facilities there had to be renovated, the PCSO moved to Sun Plaza Building on Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City, where it is staying at present. The PCSO’s projected gross earnings for 2017 is P50 billion, up from the P37.4 billion in 2016.
“This is because with this transparency at the and place their bets as they see how the funds are increased, from 250,000 to 320,00],” Balutan said.
There had been documented reports that insiders were helping process IMAP applications on condition that the recipient would share a third or even half of the funds released to him by the PCSO.
Balutan said he heard about this practice and
“If we catch anyone doing that, [he will pay for it],” he warned. Balutan said he “leads by example.” “I was taken in by the President because of my record of no corruption. I’m not a politician. Honor and credibility [are what I hold on to]. I want to preserve my integrity,” he added.
On the issue of faking a win—especially when the jackpot prize is above P200 million—so the against then-Vice Chairman and General Manager Rosario Uriarte, Balutan said it is not possible to come up with a fake winning combination as the winner’s location is known within six seconds.
“The PCSO draws are highly computerized. There can be no winner when there is no ticket. [That is not possible. Tickets have watermark, [they have] security features. There had been those who at- tempted to present tickets with altered numbers but it is instantly detected. The PCSO upholds the preservation of the integrity of the ticket,” he added.
Surprising changes
Another thing that made PCSO employees happy is the austerity measures that Balutan brought to the agency.
Extravagant celebrations are a thing of the past under his leadership.
“During the 82nd anniversary, the budget was drinks. [I said, nothing ostentatious]. P3 million [was enough]. [Then there was this typhoon in the North, so a part of the P3 million] was given to charity. Then on Christmas, instead of spending much on the venue and food, [we gave the budget happened at the PCSO and everybody was happy,” Balutan recalled.
On his free time, the PCSO general manager goes home to Nueva Ecija to tend to his rice and livestock farms.
He said he had wanted to retire after 37 years in the military service but, believing in the advocacy of change espoused by the President, he stayed on.
“We hope that with the changes we’re bringing in, the PCSO will truly serve its mission, regardless of color. Let’s say we’re colorless in here,” according to GM Balutan.