10p
Health and Social Programs of PCSO
10p Health and Social Programs of PCSO
Designer: PCSO Corporate Planning
Department
First Day Covers: Manila
PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE - 80th
ANNIVERSARY
Historically, lotteries have been in existence
in the Philippines as early as 1833. Under the auspices of private
enterprises called Empresa de Reales Loteria Espanolas de Filipinas,
the Spanish Government conducted loterias to generate revenues. In
fact, our own national hero Dr. Jose Rizal won Php 6,200.00 in the
draw of 1892, while on exile in Dapitan. He donated his winnings to
an educational project. This altruistic act gives an inkling of what
could be done if the lottery was harnessed for charitable and social
welfare projects.With the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution, the
loteria was forced to stop operations. And it was not until the
early 1930s that the idea of holding lottery games was revived. In
1932, the first Sweepstakes draw was conducted by the government to
raise funds to support sports projects for the Filipino youth
through the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF) – the
beneficiary of the first draw.The PAAF Sweepstakes was successful so
Philippine government decided to conduct more draws for the benefit
of the Philippine Anti-Tuberculosis Society, now the Philippine
Tuberculosis Society (PTS). The draws were held under the auspices
of an organization called the National Charity Sweepstakes.
The New Sweepstakes
Agency.
Rather than limit the sweepstakes to
the benefit of the youth or to fighting tuberculosis, the country’s
legislators thought of institutionalizing the Sweepstakes as a new
venture of raising funds for the promotion of public health and
general welfare.
By March 1935, then President Manuel L. Quezon
approved Act 4130 – the law passed by the Philippine Legislature in
October 30, 1934 creating the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes,
replacing the then National Charity Sweepstakes. Under this law, the
new organization was authorized to secure from the National Treasury
a loan amounting to Php250,000.00, the minimum amount required for
organizing the office and printing the tickets for the draw.
On September 8, 1935, the new agency held its
first Sweepstakes draw. Needless to say, the loan was paid back in
less than two months and shortly after the note was signed, proceeds
from the sales started pouring in. The mandate of the Sweepstakes
found acceptance among the Filipino people; its humanitarian mission
readily won public trust and support.
Among its beneficiaries then were the Philippine
Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF), the Philippine Tuberculosis
Society (PTS), the National Federation of Women’s Clubs, the
Association de Damas de Filipinas, the Gota de Leche, the Associate
of Manila and the Provinces, the Philippine Council of Boy Scouts of
America, the Asilo Para Invalidos de los Veteranos de la Revolucion,
the Child Welfare Center and other institutions and organizations
engaged in charitable and health work, or work for the improvement
of the conditions of the indigent Filipino masses.
On June 18,1954, Republic Act 1169 was enacted
into law providing for charity sweepstakes and lotteries once a
month when there are no Sweepstakes draws and races.
http://www.pcso.gov.ph/history/