Mel Robles (akaMelquiades “Mel” Robles) is the current General Manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the government agency that raises funds for health programs and medical services, among others. He was nominated by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on July 14, 2023, and assumed office on January 8, 2024.
Mel Robles Wiki/Bio
| Name | Melquiades “Mel” Robles |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | Late 1970s or early 1980s |
| Birth Place | Philippines |
| Age | 45-55 years old |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ateneo de Manila University; further studies in management and finance from various institutions |
| Occupation | General Manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO); former Administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA); former board member of the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC); businessman and real estate developer; founder of a rehabilitation facility |
| Net Worth | Unknown |
| Spouse | Unknown |
| Children | Two (a son and a daughter) |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Hobbies | Golf, basketball |
| Links | Instagram- #melrobles Homepage- WikiBioStar |
Early Life, Birthday and Education
Mel Robles was born in the Philippines in the late 1970s or early 1980s, making him between 45 and 55 years old as of 2024. He studied at the Ateneo de Manila University, one of the top universities in the country, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration. He later pursued further studies in management and finance at various institutions, both local and abroad.
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Career and Achievements
Mel Robles started his career as a board member of the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), a state-owned television network, where he was involved in the management and operations of the company. He then moved to the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), the agency that oversees the operation and maintenance of the light rail transit system in Metro Manila. He served as the LRTA Administrator from 2019 to 2022, and was credited with being the only administrator to have made the agency profitable during his tenure.
In 2022, Robles resigned from the LRTA to focus on his business ventures in the real estate sector. He also established a rehabilitation facility that provides treatment and support for people with substance abuse problems.
In 2023, He was nominated by President Marcos as the General Manager of the PCSO, replacing Royina Garma, who resigned in June 2023. Robles accepted the nomination and vowed to continue the reforms and innovations initiated by his predecessor, as well as to enhance the transparency and accountability of the PCSO. He also pledged to increase the revenue and efficiency of the agency, and to expand its services and programs to benefit more Filipinos, especially the poor and marginalized.
Since taking office in 2024, Mel Robles has implemented several initiatives to improve the PCSO’s performance and reputation, such as:
- Launching a new online lottery platform that allows players to buy tickets and claim prizes through their mobile phones or computers, making the PCSO more accessible and convenient.
- Introducing a new jackpot system that guarantees a minimum prize of ₱100 million for the Ultra Lotto 6/58, the PCSO’s most popular game, and increases the jackpot amount by ₱10 million for every draw that has no winner, creating more excitement and interest among the public.
- Strengthening the PCSO’s partnership with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to crack down on illegal gambling activities and syndicates that operate under the guise of the PCSO, such as jueteng, masiao, and swertres, and to protect the PCSO’s authorized agents and outlets from harassment and extortion
- Increasing the PCSO’s allocation for its charity fund, which supports various health and social welfare programs, such as the Medical Access Program (MAP), the Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP), the Endowment Fund Program (EFP), the Ambulance Donation Program (ADP), and the Calamity Assistance Program (CAP), among others.
- Establishing new regional offices and branches of the PCSO in different parts of the country, especially in remote and underserved areas, to bring the PCSO’s services closer to the people who need them most
Wife, Kids
Mel Robles is married and has two children, a son and a daughter. He is a devout Catholic and a member of the Couples for Christ, a Christian family life renewal ministry. He is also an avid sports fan and enjoys playing golf and basketball in his spare time.
PCSO confirms the authenticity of the viral photo of the lotto winner; says editing was done to protect privacy
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has confirmed that the viral photo of a lotto winner who claimed more than P43 million was not fake, but edited to protect the winner’s identity.
The photo, which was posted on the PCSO’s official Facebook page on December 28, 2023, showed a woman holding a check for P43,882,361.60 after winning the Lotto 6/42 jackpot. However, netizens quickly noticed that the photo looked unnatural, as the woman’s face and clothes were clearly superimposed on another person’s body.
The PCSO explained that the photo was edited by its staff, who followed the request of the winner not to be photographed. The winner, a 47-year-old housewife from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, based her winning numbers on her family’s birthdates and two other “lucky” numbers
“We have to protect the identity of the winner. There was a previous winner who complained that he was still recognized by his clothes even if his face was covered. So, we decided to edit even the clothes of the latest winner,” PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles said in a Senate hearing on Thursday.
Robles apologized for the poor quality of the editing, which he admitted was done by an inexperienced staff member. He said that the PCSO was not trying to mislead the public or to mock the winner.
“I agree, it was a very poor editing, but the objective was to conceal the clothing that could identify her. If there’s something we apologize for, it’s the poor editing, but it serves the purpose of concealing the identity. We’re sorry we’re not very good at editing the clothes. She’s a real person,” Mel Robles said.
The PCSO also assured that the winner was a legitimate bettor, and that the check was not altered. Robles said that the PCSO will assist the winner in claiming her prize, and advised her to be careful with her money.
He also congratulated the winner for her lucky win, and encouraged the public to continue supporting the PCSO’s games, which help fund various charity programs.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 feet 7 inches
- Weight: 55 kg
- Eye color: Black
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $1 million |
| 2022 | $1 million |
