Balutan shares secrets to leading a successful agency  

After successfully hitting its revenue, which is P63.55 billion, from its target P60 billion in 2018, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan shared the secrets to leading a successful agency, despite all the challenges and detractors.

“The character I have painstakingly built through the years in the military service along with the Academy’s motto of ‘Courage, Integrity and Loyalty’ are the most effective and powerful management tools in leading a successful agency,” emphasized Balutan.

A graduate of Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983, Balutan is a battle-tested Mindanao veteran and a former marine general who earned the moniker “Mandirigma” in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In 2016, Balutan was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as General Manager to help fight corruption in PCSO.

“No need for a doctorate degree or luxurious titles if one has weak leadership and poor discipline/character,” he added.

Over the years, PCSO was plagued with alleged corrupt activities that even the President described it as the “most corrupt agency in the government”.

“My battle-cry that time was touching lives, winning the peace. But up to now, we are touching lives. Dati sabi nila, ‘Mandirigma’ pampaiksi ng buhay, ngayon, pampahaba na ng buhay dahil sa mga tinutulungan nating mga pasyente na nangangailangan ng tulong medikal mula sa PCSO,” added Balutan.

Balutan emphasized how valuable the PCSO products namely Lotto and digit games, Keno, Instant Sweepstakes, and Small Town Lottery are in the agency’s Charity Fund.

PCSO Charter, or RA 1169, particularly on revenue allocation, provides that the revenue of the PCSO shall be allocated to 55 percent for prize fund (payment of prizes), 30 percent for charity fund (various charity programs and service) and 15 percent as operating fund (maintenance and operating expenses).

“We generate funds for charity services of the country, health programs of national character. That’s our mandate. We do not get anything from the national coffer. We earn our funds through gaming. Ang tawag po dito ay ‘gaming’ hindi gambling,” explained Balutan.

“Kaya itong nire-remit sa atin na monthy PMRR (Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipt) ng mga STL operators is really a big boost to PCSO’s 30 percent Charity Fund that provides payment for hospital bills of thousands of patients every day – patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, dialysis, those who are in need of implant and transplant operations, among others. This is the reason why PCSO exists stronger than ever,” he added.

STL is a regular game by PCSO authorized by the national government through Section 1 of Republic Act 1169; while AACs are corporations or cooperatives duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), respectively that applied, been duly qualified and expressly authorized by the PCSO to conduct STL in a particular area.

In a data provided by Branch Operations Sector headed by Assistant General Manager Remeliza Gabuyo, STL has employed 314,596 employees as of December 2018. Of that, 13,720 are organic employees, 26,227 are sales supervisors, and 274,649 are sales agents.

This workforce comprises those who could not pass the nitty-gritties of job fairs because of their lack of education, old age, or they are physically disabled

At present, there are 86 ASAs (Authorized STL Agents) and 12 terminated corporations.