Push Admin

PCSO admits it still has no international auditor for games integrity

Article (news)

VIVIENNE GULLA

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has yet to acquire the services of an international auditor for games integrity, PCSO’s Kat Contacto admitted before the House Committee on Ways and Means on Monday.</p><div> </div><p>But she asserted that the PCSO has ISO certifications for its games processes, and a representative of the Commission on Audit regularly observes its operations.</p><div><br/></div><p>Contacto issued the statement amid doubts raised on the integrity of PCSO’s games.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/26/24/senator-seeks-suspension-of-lotto-draw-over-suspicious-winners">&#x27;Kabulastugan na yan&#x27;: Imee seeks suspension of lotto draw due to suspicious &#x27;winners&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/19/24/whats-the-big-deal-pcso-gm-defends-poorly-edited-photo-of-lotto-winner">What&#x27;s the big deal? PCSO GM defends poorly edited photo of lotto winner</a></div><div> </div><p>&quot;Like that case wherein the winner is from Ligao, and just because your GM is also from Ligao, and therefore one plus one is equal P671 million, tama ba ‘yun?&quot; Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, committee chairperson, asked.</p><div> </div><p>“Hindi naman po (That&#x27;s not the case), Sir,” Contacto replied.</p><div> </div><p>“Currently, we have yearly ISO certifications naman po for our games processes… There are also COA representatives present daily,” she added.</p><div> </div><p>“ISO does not guarantee your games integrity… COA doesn’t know anything about integrity on games,” Salceda said.</p><div><br/></div><p>ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is an international non-government organization for technical standards that member organizations agree to adopt.</p><div><br/></div><p>The government Bureau of Philippine Standards represents the Philippines in the ISO.</p><div> </div><p>Salceda recommended that PCSO acquire the services of an international auditor for games integrity to allay doubts. Contacto expressed openness to the idea.</p><div> </div><p>“After 90 years, you don’t have international auditor for games integrity?” Salceda asked.</p><div> </div><p>“Wala pa po (Not yet), sir. But we will look into it. Rest assured, we welcome the comments and we will consult with management,” Contacto replied.</p><div> </div><p>“It’s worth spending on,” Salceda said.</p><div> </div><p>“Yes, I agree,” Contacto answered.</p><div><strong> </strong></div><div><strong>DISPLACED LOTTO AGENTS</strong></div><div> </div><p>Around 2,000 lotto agents were displaced when PCSO migrated to the new Philippine Lottery System (PLS) last October, according to the Philippine Online Lotto Agents Association.</p><div> </div><p>The group complained before the House panel that the displaced agents suffered losses from the termination of their contracts.</p><div><br/></div><p>POLAAI’s Clariz Imperial said some lotto agents only operated for three months, or half the time it usually takes for operators to recover capital.</p><div><br/></div><p>“Kaya ako naiiyak, marami akong teller, wala po silang makain noong nagsara. I’m sure lahat ng lotto agents na ito will share the same sentiments especially ‘yung 2,000 na nawalan ng machine. Maraming umaasa sa kanila,&quot; she lamented.</p><div><br/></div><p>(I wept for my tellers, they had nothing to eat after we were forced to stop operations. I’m sure all lotto agents will share the same sentiments, especially the 2,000 who lost their machines. Many are depending on them.)</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Gumagastos kami ng P100,000 mahigit, kasi yung renta and then pagpapagawa… may mga signage pa po na we have to comply with the requirements,” Imperial said.</p><div><br/></div><p>(We spent more than P100,000 for the rent...we also spent on signages, we had to comply with the requirements.)</p><div> </div><p>“Sana naman, unang-una, binigyan kami ng due process… Tinerminate nila without giving us an opportunity na ano ba ang pwedeng ipalit nilang kabuhayan sa amin.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><p>Lawmakers slammed PCSO’s move.</p><div> </div><p>The agency explained that the previous administration bought only 6,500 new terminals under the PLS, which was not enough to accommodate the 8,500 lotto agents. It added that their contracts allowed PCSO to terminate agents, who failed to reach the sales performance targets set by the management. </p><div><br/></div><p>But PCSO stressed that prior communication was given to affected lotto agents before the termination of contract. The agency said it is procuring additional terminals to address the issue.</p><div> </div><p>“Noong magta-transition na kami sa (When we transitioned to) PLS, we wrote ‘yung lotto agents namin na [underperforming] to improve their sales as early as March 2023. ‘Yung mga (Those who had) sales na below P90,000, we said na they have to improve their sales,&quot; PCSO Assistant General Manager Remeliza Gabuyo told lawmakers.</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Noong approaching ng October, &#x27;di ba ang agents namin subject to renewal. ‘Yung mga below performance, hindi na namin ni-renew come October,” she related.</p><div><br/></div><p>(As October approached--remember our agents are subject to renewal--those not performing up to par were not renewed.)</p><div> </div><p>“We have to implement yung decision ng previous management for the 6,500 terminals and we did our best,” she added.</p><div><br/></div><p>Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo said the contracts must be checked because it seems that the PCSO unilaterally decided to reduce the capacity from 8,500 to 6,500, despite having contracts with the 2,000 agents who were terminated.</p><div> </div><p>“One-sided ang kontrata na yan. Dapat doon sa kontrata may provision kayo sakaling may management decision na ganoon, mayroon kayong compensation sa kanila o transition na makabawi manlang sila sa puhunan nila,” APEC Party List Rep. Sergio Dagooc added.</p><div><br/></div><p>(The contract is one-sided. It should have had a provision stating that if management decides to terminate a contract, agents must receive compensation or a transition plan to help them recoup what they have spent.)</p><div> </div><p>“Because of those issue raised last year pa po, the management is looking into procuring additional terminals po. Ongoing pa siya. Yung concern nila ng displacement, ginagawan ng paraan (We are working on their concerns of displacement),” Contacto assured lawmakers.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED STORY:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OSYB1wAKyw4?&amp;ab_channel=ABS-CBNNews&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The PCSO has yet to acquire the services of an international auditor for games integrity. </p>

The PCSO has yet to acquire the services of an international auditor for games integrity.