MANILA – Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is proposing to simplify and privatize the operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in a bid to counter corruption within the agency.
Gatchalian suggested that the Department of Finance (DOF) should only be a “collecting agent,” while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be the primary beneficiary.
“Ang aking proposal nga is very simple: I-simplify at i-privatize natin ang operations ng PCSO. ‘Yung iba’t ibang palaro roon like lotto, STL, Perya ng Bayan at iba pa,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian also said that it will also be easier for the government to regulate the PCSO operations since they will now just concentrate on supervision, monitoring, regulation and collection.
“Collecting agent na lang ang DOF ng kung anong babayaran nitong private companies at lahat ng nakolekta ay ibigay sa DSWD since nasa kanila ang database ng mahihirap nating mga kababayan,” he added.
Gatchalian said that this scheme would make it easier for the government to regulate the PCSO operations.
“Kung takot kang malaki siya, i-break up mo per region, per island, per province; Break it up to smaller areas,” Gatchalian said.
President Duterte has ordered the shutting down of all PCSO gambling operations last Saturday due to “massive corruption” but he lifted the ban on lotto operations and has resumed its draws last night./PN
