Sweepstakes commends Pangasinan STL operator

(PCSO) has given the management of Speed Game Incorporated (SGI), which operates the Small Town Lottery (STL) in Pangasinan, a high satisfaction rating.

Citing SGI’s average monthly remittance from January to May of over P437 million, Remeliza Gabuyo, PCSO assistant general manager for branch operations nationwide, recently commended SGI “for their active role in raising funds” for various government charity work.

She said SGI collected P 42,967.299 in January, P86,879.536 in February, P116,999.622 in March, P95,926,691 in April and P94,866.675 in May.

“SGI management is now able to remit its collections monthly to the PCSO compared to the former operator who was not able to…,” Gabuyo told members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) during the June 18 question hour.

She assured the SP members that the PCSO will not tolerate any violation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations governing the operation of the STL, even as she said there has been no proven irregularities in SGI’s management of the STL in Pangasinan.

- ers that there is no anomaly in SGI´s management of the STL, contrary to the allegations of some mayors who are complaining about their three percent share.

SGI management is not responsible for the distribution of the share of the local government units (LGUs), the task being handled by the PCSO itself, Gabuyo said.

Shares of various towns, cities and the province are regularly remitted to their respective treasurers, while those of the congressmen are remitted to their respec-

PCSO provincial manager, said.

Romero explained that the monthly share of the different LGUs varies in relation to their monthly gross sales.

“There are times when collection at the end of one month is higher than the previous month,” she said.

Earlier on, Laoac town Mayor Silverio Alarcio called on SGI management to be transparent, particularly

in declaring their gross sales and net income to determine exactly the three percent share of each municipality and the .75 percent share of the province.

On Alarcio’s concern over the small share his town is receiving,

that Laoac is a small town compared to other LGUs and thus its share is proportionately small as gross sales from the municipality are also minimal.

Alarcio said his town received P23,845 in January, P37,636 in February, P50,444 in March and P46,833 in April or P158,761.95 over four months.

Coming to the defense of SGI,

SGI has no authority to compute the share of the LGUs.

On the issue of alleged employment of minors, Chief Inspector Dominic Poblete, chief of plans and operations at the provincial

not received any valid evidence on the matter.

yet to receive evidence that bookies are operating in the province.

Bookies refer to those persons who collect bets but do not remit the collections to the lawful operator of STL, which is SGI.

On the issue of local business permits, Gabuyo cited a Supreme Court decision that exempts STL franchise holders from securing the same from the LGUs.

She said an STL franchisee such as the SGI is considered an extension agency of the PCSO, which was created by a national law and thus exempt from securing local business permit.

The Sandigan Panlalawigan inquiry started on June 6 when board

- tion seeking a probe of mechanics and conduct of STL in Pangasinan.

Sison noted that the mechanics of STL are similar to those used in the illegal numbers game jueteng where features are used such as saclit,derecha and kalag.

He questioned SGI’s payment of five percent share of the bet takers when allegedly the IRR provides for 10 percent.

Gabuyo explained that the PCSO determines the percentage sharing under Section 39 of the IRR promulgated by the PCSO Board of Directors and SGI has no hand on the matter.