LOTTERIES began in the Philippines in 1833. They were held primarily to generate revenues for the government. They were revived in 1932. Many lotteries were held to support the Philippine Tuberculosis Society and its anti-TB projects. This year, the government held a lottery to support the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation’s sports projects for the Filipino youth. To widen the humanitarian mission of the National Charity Sweepstakes, the former name of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the National Assembly passed Act No. 4130 on October 30, 1934, and created the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Since its creation, PCSO has extended help to innumerable individuals, institutions, and organizations engaged in various charitable, health, and welfare activities all over the country. It has also supported government livelihood and rehabilitation projects.
As of Year 2001, a total of 117,001 medical and 28,292 dental patients had received PCSO help nationwide. Through its Out-Patient Clinic Department at the PCSO head office at the Quezon Institute compound in Quezon City, it has helped a total of 38,911 medical and 18,965 patients. Various government rehabilitation projects also received substantial PCSO help. It extended help to the victims of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, to the affected families of the Ormoc disaster, to victims of the Ozone tragedy, etc. Today, PCSO supports many institutions, projects, government and private hospitals, etc. Without PCSO’s aid, such projects and institutions would suffer in their delivery of services and help to the disadvantaged sectors of our society.
"Mapagkalinga! Ganyan ang Pilipino… Ganyan ang PCSO!
(Caring! That’s the Filipino… That’s the PCSO)’’ aptly expressed PCSO as an indispensable charity arm of the government in providing funds for essential pre-people projects and welfare activities nationwide.
We congratulate the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office headed by its Chairman Sergio O. Valencia, Board of Directors and personnel for making it the premier humanitarian institution in the country.
