ILOILO City – The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) turned over to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) here checks totalling P58.1 million as mandatory contribution to the government agency tasked to promote relevant and quality higher education and ensure access to quality higher education.
No less than PCSO general manager Royina Garma turned over the check to CHED Region 6 director Dr. Maura Consolacion Cristobal representing CHED chairman Proposero De Vera III on Nov. 14.
The amount would go to CHED’s Higher Education Development Fund.
PCSO’s monetary contribution to CHED was pursuant to Section 10 of Republic Act 7722 which mandated PCSO to allocate one percent of gross sales of its lotto operation nationwide.
“Gagamitin po nila ito sa health programs ng CHED and other programs that would improve the education quality of higher education institutions,” said Garma during the turnover held at a hotel in Mandurriao district.
The P58.1 million was one percent of PCSO’s three-month gross sales, added Garma.
PCSO had been releasing funds to the CHED since 1995, said Garma, reaching some P2.4 billion to date.
But yesterday was the first time PCSO held a formal turnover ceremony.
“When I assumed as PCSO general manager, I learned na binibigay lang ‘yung tseke sa CHED, parang internal process lang and people don’t even know about this. So sabi ko it is time to announce to the public how much we are actually giving to government agencies. Dapat alam ng taong-bayan and right din po ninyo na malaman na ‘yung binigay ninyo through our lotto doon po napupunta ang pera,” said Garma.
PCSO also contributes to PhilHealth, Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, local government units, orphanages, and hospitals, among others.
Garma, however, said PCSO can only sustain its financial commitments to these institutions if it continues to generate revenues.
“So as we continuously work with compassion and dedication, in improving the lives of our countrymen, we encourage you to give to PCSO, by supporting and patronizing our products,” Garma stressed.
With a bet of P10 or P24, one does not only get a shot at becoming a millionaire, he also does charity work through the programs and services of PCSO, she added.
Meanwhile, in his prepared speech read by Cristobal, CHED chairman De Vera said Region 6 was selected as venue of the first formal fund turnover outside Luzon because it has the highest number of state universities and colleges./PN
