Grand Lotto Still up for Grabs; Pot Now P251.1 Million

MANILA, Philippines — The Filipino's dream of making it big the easy way through the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office's (PCSO) Grand Lotto 6/55 lives on as Wednesday night's draw for the P251,142,339.60 jackpot failed to register any winner.

PCSO On-Line Lottery Assistant General Manager Liza Gabuyo told the Manila Bulletin on Thursday she expects the Grand Lotto's prize to increase to P260 million, more or less, depending on the sales for the next draw on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Gabuyo said the biggest jackpot so far in local lottery under the PCSO was P347 million for the February 22, 2009 draw for Super Lotto. She said two winners shared the huge pot.

“We are inviting our patrons to try their luck, not only with Grand Lotto, but with the other PCSO lotteries. While helping those in need, bettors also have the chance of making it big through the lotto draws,” said Gabuyo.

PCSO Manager Manny Garcia for Public Relations and Publicity Department (PRPD) said ticket sales last Wednesday alone for the Grand Lotto was P42,098,820.

Garcia said the draw with winning numbers 38-25-16-48-26-42 had no jackpot winner. He said nine bettors hit the second prize (five numbers correct) of P150,000 each; third prize had 927 winners of P2,000 each; and fourth prize had 23,645 winners of P150 each.

For Thursday night's draw for Super Lotto (6/49), the prize as of press time was P128,179,537.20.

As this developed, PCSO Chairperson Margarita P. Juico, Gabuyo and six others went to Negros Occidental (Bacolod and Silay cities) for a one-day effort to drum up support for the agency's programs and projects.

While in Bacolod, Juico's party met with Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr. and handed him the P130,000 share from lotto of the province, said Gabuyo.

She said the PCSO also turned over 150 wheel chairs to various beneficiaries, visited the Corazon Montelibano Memorial Hospital, Jalandoni Provincial Hospital, and Saint Vincent Nursing Home, all beneficiaries of the PCSO's humanitarian assistance.

Edd Usman, Manila Bulletin