Last Friday, April 11, 2008, during the conduct of our MegaLotto 6/45, a technical problem occurred wherein the draw machine failed to release the fourth (4th) ball being drawn to the holding chamber. This prompted our Draw Operation Head to suspend temporarily the conduct of the said draw to perform the necessary counter measure in order for us to complete the night’s draw. In this regard, the host advised our televiewers and radio listeners that we will have a “station break” and will resume the airing of the draw in little while.

During the said break, the following corrective measures were done in the PCSO Draw Court:

a. After determining that the draw machine cannot be repaired at that moment, as a matter of procedure, our stand-by/back-up draw machine was brought out by our draw team staff and the representatives of the PGMC (Phil. Gaming Management Corp. – the PCSO system provider for equipment). There is always a back-up equipment for each lottery game.

b. In the presence of our Commission on Audit (COA), Internal Audit, Lottery Sector Representatives and the members of the Board of Judges (from the public sector), preliminary inspection of the alternate machine was done including the testing of the equipment using the agency assigned “Test balls”.

c. Having passed the test, the remaining 41 draw balls used earlier were transferred to the alternate machine. At this instance, only the Chairman of the Board of Judges is allowed to transfer the balls from the chamber of the first machine to the alternate machine. This was done in the presence of all representatives.

d. After completing the cycle, clearance was given to continue with the draw.

e. The draw was resumed at around 9:55 PM of the same evening.

To further clarify the matter, the decision to draw two (2) balls was done for reason that the four (4) balls drawn earlier (12-36-19-20) were valid for passing the standard procedure in the conduct of draw and were left inside the holding chamber of the equipment. The remaining two (37-32) were drawn in the alternate machine. The two draw machines were shown side-by-side during the resumption of the draw, this is to ensure the public that no changes were made to affect the outcome of the draw.

The result of the draw did not produce a winner for our jackpot prize of 4.5 Million Pesos. For the low-tier prizes, those who got 5 of the 6 numbers drawn, we have 46 winners at Php 23,000.00 each. For the 4 of 6, 2,375 winners at Php 600.00 each and finally for the 3 of 6, we have 45,418 winners at Php 40.00 each.

As for the technical problem, our technical team together with the PGMC technical staff from that time on have been conducting an evaluation/check of the equipment and after which a final report shall be submitted to the top management. As a matter of procedure, the said equipment will not be used until found to be of top condition as certified by the company.

We assure the public that proper actions were taken by the PCSO as far as the problem is concerned and measures were taken in accordance to the Draw Standard Operating Procedure duly approved by the PCSO Board of Directors and management in the presence of all officials and the members of the Board of Judges to ensure transparency.

Thank you.

(Sgd.)

DR. LARRY R. CEDRO
PCSO Spokesperson