By: Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office -Bacolod branch manager Jose Manuel Villagracia said losses incurred due to the suspension of Small Town Lottery (STL) in August 2019 reached P120 million.
Villagracia confirmed on Sept 3, 2019 that Super Lucky Beagler (SLB), operator of the STL in Negros Occidental, was directed to resume operation on Sept 1.
Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the suspension on STL operations “will be lifted by the President immediately after the publication of the implementing rules and regulations,” which could be done Monday, August 26.
But STL operators with clear violations will not be allowed to operate, Panelo was quoted as saying.
Villagracia said that SLB is one of the STL operators in the country that was given the go signal to resume operation.
The letter from PCSO addressed to Jexter Mercado of SLB said “with reference to the approval of the Office of the President on the resumption of STL operations, you are directed to resume STL operations in Bacolod City commencing September 1, 2019.
The letter signed by PCSO Vice Chairperson and General Manager Royina Garma also stated that “you are advised to faithfully comply with your duties and obligations under the STL Agency Agreement/Deed of Authority pursuant to the undertaking you signed as one of the conditions for the resumption.”
With the order, Villagracia said that STL agents in the province under SLB can resume soliciting bets.
He added that there are 13,000 STL agents in the province who were rendered jobless when the President suspended PCSO games, including STL.
“Now they can have their job back,” Villagracia said.
He lamented that when STL operation was suspended in the country, it is not only the STL agents were affected.
He said even small carinderias where the agents usually eat and gather before remitting the bets were also affected.
