The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) launched the newest Philippine Lottery System (PLS).
PCSO on Monday, Oct. 2 said the initiative offers several benefits, which include centralization of sales reports, generation of winning numbers, and more accessible validation of tickets.
It added that these improvements ultimately lead to increased efficiency and transparency for both the PCSO and lottery players.
During the launch held on Oct. 1, PCSO General Manager (GM) Mel Robles emphasized that the joint venture between the Philippine Gaming and Management Corporation (PGMC), Pacific Online Systems Corporation (POSC), and International Lottery Totalizator Systems Inc. will usher in a new era of efficiency, transparency, and convenience in lottery operations.
"We are thrilled to embark on this significant transition towards automation of our system for our lotto games. The Philippine Lottery System Project is a testament to our commitment to innovation and providing the best experience for our valued customers," Robles said.
"All lottery operations are now seamlessly integrated into a unified platform," he added.
P5.6-B project
In the last two decades, PCSO used to operate separate lottery systems nationwide for its lotto outlet ticket-selling operations—the PGMC system for Luzon and the POSC system for Visayas and Mindanao.
However, through the agency's initiative "to install a centralized lottery system has been in the works for around a decade, it was stalled due to numerous unforeseen circumstances and the COVID-19 pandemic."
As the PCSO explained, with a total cost of P5.6 billion, the project was initiated by the previous PCSO administration, and it underwent a public bidding process.
The winning bidder was granted a Notice to Proceed (NTP) on Dec. 06 of 2021, and initially given 14 months to implement the PLS.
However, they were granted an extension of eight additional months to complete the manufacturing processes due to supply chain problems caused by the pandemic.
Upon project completion, the latest lottery system enabled PCSO to generate draw results efficiently, resulting in faster announcements of jackpot winners and their respective locations.
Furthermore, PLS has received certification for compliance with the World Lottery Association security control standards (WLA-SCS), which encompass ISO 27001 standards, guaranteeing the integrity and security of the system.
Aside from Robles, other agency officials, including the Commission on Audit, witnessed the seamless transition from the previous lottery system to the latest technology, adhering to global standards, at the PLS Command and Control Center within the PCSO Conservatory Building in Mandaluyong City.
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