Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan has announced on Monday that the agency has approved 13 more Small Town Lottery (STL) agents for the first semester this year.
“We would like to welcome these new STL agents. We have also terminated some agents for violating provisions in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of STL. This only goes to show that we will not hesitate to terminate them,” said Balutan.
Based on a data from the Branch Operations Sector headed by Assistant General Manager Remeliza Gabuyo, the list of newly awarded Authorized Agent Corporations include the Mountain View Games of Chance Corporation both for Provinces of Kalinga and Apayao; Red Carpet Gaming Corporation of Province of Siquijor; Zamboanga Amusement and Recreational Incorporated of Province of Zamboanga Sibugay.
It also includes Fairways Management and Gaming Corporation of Province of Zamboanga Del Norte, Mindanao ABCD Corporation of Province of Dinagat, JGM Gaming and Leisure Corporation of Saranggani, Scorpio Games and Amusement Inc. of Bohol, Jy Archers Games & Entertainment Corporation of South Cotabato, Goldfranc Amusement and Gaming Corp. of Ifugao, Red Subay Gaming Corporation of Iloilo Province, Nuebe Swerte Inc. of Davao Occidental, and Top Gem Gaming Inc., of Cavite City.
STL is a regular game by PCSO authorized by the national government through Section 1 of Republic Act 1169.
ASA (Authorized STL Agents), on other hand, are corporations or cooperatives duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or with the Cooperative Development Authority, respectively, that applied, been duly qualified and expressly authorized by the PCSO to conduct STL in a particular area.
“From January to July this year, we already have 82 operating AACs with a total of P11,661,122,165.28 overall sales (excluding gross payment of Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipt shortfall),” Balutan said.
The revenue is 89 percent increase compared with the same period last year, which only had P6,177,109,388.53 sales; while the number of operating AACs is 37 percent higher compared last year.
As for the jobs generated, STL has produced 269,662 cobradores (sales representatives), 21,158 caboes (sales supervisor), and 11,716 organic STL employees for an overall total of 302,536.
“STL has provided ‘legal’ jobs for people who were used to ‘illegal numbers game’. They are the ones who cannot even pass the nitty-gritties of job fairs due to age, lack of education, and physical disability. We have saved them from vices – example drugs – and from being exploited by criminals. STL is giving them and their families a decent life,” Balutan stressed.
However, compared with jobs for cobradores which is up by 11 percent compared with the same period last year, jobs for caboes were down by 11 percent due to some terminated STL agents; while jobs for organic STL employees were up by 38 percent.
“Figures for caboes are expected to shoot up again this year with the introduction of the new STL agents,” added Balutan.
The established and existing STL corporations provide regular medical mission and educational assistance to their towns and municipalities, apart from providing economic activity to the province.
“Instead of tolerating jueteng, it’s better to support and strengthen STL,” said Balutan.
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