MANILA, Philippines — With an eye to keeping the integrity of the Small Town Lottery (STL), which will be called "Loterya ng Bayan" (LnB) in its re-introduction in 2011, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairperson Margarita P. Juico said on Monday the PCSO will be holding the draws for LnB for close supervision and monitoring.

Her revelation came amid the PCSO's continuing effort to re-invent the much-maligned STL for allegedly being used by "jueteng" operators as front for their operation.

PCSO has denied the allegations.

Taking over the STL draws from agent corporations is part of the charitable agency's Board's desire to maintain and preserve the integrity of the STL and prevent as much as possible the entry of so-called "jueteng" operators.

She said the STL draws will be in the same roof with the PCSO provincial district offices where there are agent corporations operating.

With the grant of STL "Deed of Authority" suspended until the new guidelines are released and operational, STL agent corporations have remained at 34, operating in the province of Quezon, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Oriental Mindoro, Sorsogon and Romblon (southern sector); Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Zambales, Bataan, and Pampanga (northern sector).

Applicants for STL are still being accepted. On the other hand, the PCSO Board under Juico has suspended the operation of 13 agent corporations that applied with the past PCSO management.

"Cubradores (collectors) for STL bets will still go out to get bets. But this time they will also have with them other products of the PCSO," Juico said.

It is recalled that the PCSO Board has been holding a series of meetings at the PCSO headquarters' Board room at the Philippine International Convention Center to finalize the new STL guidelines. The PCSO has set this December the release of the guidelines and the IRR.

"We have to give ourselves a deadline," said Juico.