Republic of the Philippines aN
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE: &\

Quezon City

/ RECEIVED.
0 3 DEC 2014

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.52957

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie”Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

There are cases when lotto prizes, on both jackpot or consolation prizes, remain
unclaimed even after the lapse of 365 days or one year after the draws and the monies
revert back to the charity fund of the agency to finance charity-related programs (i.e.

requests for medicines from PCSO) and the like. %
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For instance in 2011, two major prizes for solo winners went unclaimed: P23,7
million jackpot for the 6/42 Regular Lotto draw (March 15, 2011) for the winning ticket sold
by a lotto outlet in Binondo, Manila; and the P4.5 million jackpot of the 6/45 Mega Lotto draw
‘on March 25, 2011 for the winning ticket sold in Harrison Plaza, Manila.

In fact, a total of P3.36 billion worth of lottery prizes, accumulated from 2006 to 2013,
were unclaimed from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) as revealed during

a House Committee on Games and Amusement hearing. ‘

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However, PCSO executives argue that in accordance with the agency's rule’, thal
prizes went to the charity fund when they remained unclaimed for 365 days. The charity fund
is used to provide medical assistance to qualified patients who seek help from the PCSO.

It is the contemplation of this instant measure that henceforth, sums of money
representing unclaimed prizes from lotto draws be effectively and efficiently channelled to
another agency, in this case, the Department of Social Welfare and Development to
administer them and to beef up its social welfare programs. The rationale of this proposal is.
based on the fact that DSWD runs a highly reliable targeting system on most of its welfare
programs that is able to target the legitimate and rightful beneficiaries of such goods and
services.

—,
JE” CASTELO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._ 5257

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie”Castelo

AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE UTILIZATION OF PCSO FUNDS FROM UNCLAIMED LOTTO
PRIZES FOR DISPOSITION AND ADMINISTRATION BY DSWD FOR ITS
SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1, This Act shall be known as the 'DSWD Enhanced Social Welfare
Program Act of 2014”.

SEC. 2. The DSWD shall hereby be authorized the effective and efficient utilization
of funds from PCSO representing unclaimed lotto prizes for the enhancement and greater
distribution of social welfare programs and benefits to targeted beneficiaries.

SEC. 3. Under this Act, the PCSO shall henceforth cause the transfer to DSWD of
all funds from unclaimed lotto prizes for the purpose of augmenting the financial resources of
DSWD in carrying out an increasing demand of its social welfare programs.

SEC. 4. In coordination with the PCSO, the DSWD shall issue appropriate rules,
regulations, and guidelines to effectively implement the intent of this Act.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect upon its publication in the Official Gazette and in at
least three (3) newspapers of general circulation thirty (30) days upon its approval.

Approved,