The Ultra Lotto 6/58 has reached a massive prize of P360 million, according to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Monday, as more Filipinos return to place their bets.
According to PCSO General Manager Royina Garma, the latter part of the year saw a return to normal numbers after bettors plunged following the outbreak of the pandemic.
"Ang laki po ng epekto lalong-lalo na po last year, subalit itong later part po ngayon, mga two months ago, bumabalik po ng normal," she told DZRH in an interview.
(There is a huge effect especially last year. But the latter part now, about two months ago, things are getting back to normal.)
Garma attributed the return of bettors to easing quarantine restrictions and the lower price of tickets.
"Ibinaba rin namin yung presyo namin. Dati kasi P24 to, naging P20 na lang. So ginawa naming affordable at larong masa talaga," she said.
(We also lowered our prices. From P24 to P20. So we made it affordable and a game for the masses.)
Winners of the massive P360-million prize can place their bets any time of the week, but the draws happen every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.
"Pwede naman pong mag-one week advance betting at bumili ng ticket para sa mga larong ito," she said. "So you need to be able to choose six number combinations out of 58 balls."
(You can place your bets one week in advance and buy a ticket for this game. You need to be able to choose six number combinations out of 58 balls.)
The prize will still be subject to taxes, according to Garma, but the office will handle that with the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
"Meron pong taxes na naka-impose. Ang PCSO ay magbabawas sa napanalunan at kami na rin po ang nagreremit sa BIR," she said.
(There are taxes imposed. PCSO will deduct it from the winnings and we will remit it to the BIR.)
Garma said the PCSO was lucky to not close down even if sales plunged last year, and was even able to shell out funds despite the pandemic.
"Tuloy-tuloy pong open 'yung branch natin. Hindi po kami nag-adjust o nagbawas. The more pa ngang nilabas naming lahat 'yung pondo namin."
(The branch remained open. We did not adjust or face deductions. In fact, we were able to further release more funds.)
Currently, the PCSO is disposing of P9 million a day to help beneficiaries of its Medical Access Program.
"Daily po kami po ay nagdi-dispose ng P9 million a day para po sa tulong pinansyal pambili po ng chemotherapy drugs at saka po nag-dialysis sa medicines po. So hindi po kami bumababa ng P9 million daily," Garma said.
(We are disposing of P9 million a day a financial aid to buy chemotherapy drugs and dialysis for medicines. We did not go lower than P9 million daily.)
"Hindi pa po kasama dito yung mga binibigay naming mga financial na tulong sa mga hospitals for the billing through our Malasakit Center," she added.
(This does not include the financial help we have hospitals for the billing through the Malasakit Center.)
