A 30-year-old man became an instant millionaire after hitting the P36.2-million jackpot in the Lotto 6/42 draw last month.

The lotto patron from Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, who has been playing the games for nearly a decade, was the solo winner in the September 7 draw with the winning combination 3-31-15-19-10-27, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said in a statement on Tuesday, October 24.

The PCSO said the winner claimed his prize at the agency's main office in Mandaluyong City on September 11.

“Napakagandang biyaya nito para sa amin ng asawa ko. Sa katunayan po ay nagsisimula palang kaming bumuo ng sarili naming pamilya. Maraming salamat po sa PCSO sa mga ganitong pagkakataon na ibinibigay ninyo sa lahat ng kababayan natin na umaasa na may suwerteng darating sa buhay (It has been a wonderful blessing for my wife and me. In fact, we are just beginning to build our own family. Thank you very much to PCSO for these opportunities that you give to all our compatriots who hope that some luck will come in life),” the winner said.

The winner said he plans to invest his winnings in real estate and start his own business.

He vouched for the authenticity and integrity of PCSO’s games when he collected his prize and even encouraged the future patrons of the lotto and other gaming products of the agency.

To avoid forfeiture of winnings, winners have one year from the date of the draw to claim the prize as specified in Republic Act 1169, otherwise known as the PCSO Charter.

The PCSO reminded the public that all lotto jackpot prizes must be claimed at its main office on Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City.

To claim prizes, winners must write their names and sign at the back of the winning ticket and present two government-issued IDs.

The public is encouraged to keep on patronizing the products of PCSO as a large chunk of its revenues goes to charity programs. (PNA)