PCSO publicity funds may have been used for 2010 polls

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
A JUMP in public relations spending by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in the first months of 2010 may have been used for the national elections, Senator Franklin Drilon said Monday.
At a Senate investigation on alleged misuse of PCSO funds, PCSO board member Aleta Tolentino said spending from January to June 2010 dwarfed spending for 2009.
She said the PCSO spent P1.1 billion in public relations (PR) funds against a total of P700 million for the previous year. PR spending for the rest of 2010 was at a much lower P115 million, Tolentino added.
Drilon said this was suspicious because it mirrored a similar spike in the PCSO’s spending of intelligence funds in 2010.
At hearings last week, it was revealed that P150 million in intelligence fund was released to the PCSO. Only P14 million was left when the new PCSO board took over.
From 2005 to 2010, the PCSO spent a total of P7.2 billion on ad placements, a television show hosted by former PCSO board member Manoling Morato, and television dramas about sweepstakes and lotto winners, Tolentino said.
Former PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte declined to explain the spending, saying she might incriminate herself in plunder cases already filed against her.
Pressed to cite policies that would explain the jump in spending, she said she could not remember.
Drilon also pressed her on a check for P20 million that she encashed in December 2009. Uriarte said the money had been used for “relief operations” but did not go into detail.
Drilon said the PCSO should not be spending so much on advertising and publicity. This was a view shared by current PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II who said people will still bet on the lotto, “what’s important [is] that the results are published.”
He added PCSO must also spend to broadcast the lotto draws on live TV.
He said the current PCSO board has already slashed its PR budget to P550 million from P975 million. He said they will also ask for a smaller publicity budget in 2012.
Senators also zeroed in on around P30 million to P33 million that the PCSO spent to bankroll “Dial M,” a weekly television show hosted by former PCSO board member Manoling Morato and actress Maggie Dela Riva.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada noted that the show suffered low ratings and that the money would have been better spent on charity work.
Morato was also criticized for saying he used the show to endorse administration candidate and former Defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in the 2010 elections. He said that since he was not a paid talent for the show, he was free to say anything he wanted.
But Estrada said PCSO funds should not have been used for politicking.
Drilon said the Commission on Elections and the Justice department should check whether Morato violated the Revised Election Code.
“He was the co-host of the program and he campaigned for the administration candidate. It’s clear to use that that was electioneering,” he said.
“I was forced to host that show,” was Morato’s defense. (Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/19/pcso-publicity-funds-may-have-been-used-2010-polls-167572

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

Residents of Pampanga Angeles City, Subic, Tarlac and Clark Philippines know of this wine shop as one of the best places in Clark, a good night out place and simply the best place to hang out, enjoy some good wine with cheese on the roof deck with good atmosphere, or just relax and unwind with friends and family in a cool place. This wine shop in Clark Pampanga is recognized by many to be one of the best places to buy fine vintage wine in the Philippines. Located near Mimosa Leisure Estate surrounded by golf courses, resorts and a casino, this well known wine shop is frequently visited for its good selection of wine not available in Manila or Subic. Clark Wine Center is open 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm. Private dinners, wine tastings and group gatherings can be organized by advanced reservation.

Foodies and wine lovers travel north from Manila to wine and dine at Philippines’ best fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Clark Freeport worth the 60-minutes drive for a memorable evening of good food with vintage wine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most guests would stop by this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center to bring home a few good bottles of fine vintage wine also. Other visitors may find the wine selections in some of the restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga to be less than interesting, so they stop by this wine shop near Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines, buy some good wines and bring these bottles of good vintage wines to the restaurants so they can enjoy the dinner.

Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.

This is one of the frequently visited places for wine lovers from Manila and Angeles City to buy international wines in Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com