The Costa Rican Social Protection Board (JPS) is currently considering extending the three-month subsidy that was implemented in March to support its lottery vendors during the pandemic.
Although the last payment has been made, the vendors have since asked for an extension, with Elizabeth Badilla, spokeswoman for the JPS, revealing to local outlet Monumental that the board is analyzing the request.
“The JPS contributed with this subsidy for three months during the toughest period of the pandemic. It was an additional contribution from the institution of more than $550 for each of them,” she explained.
“Currently, we’re generating sales and some resources, and a number of vendors have made a request to the institution, yet to be resolved by the Board of Directors as they have to finish some economic impact studies.”
According to figures from the JPS, the lockdown has generated a drop of $21.7m in the projected revenue for 2020, although they haven’t estimated what the total will be.
In addition, Badilla said that part of the money that they had planned for new projects had to be redirected in order to cover the financing of more than 500 social programs that were at risk during the pandemic. She explained that the JPS has a $5m budget planned to contribute to these organisations.
Back in June, the JPS started selling its lottery and ‘chance’ tickets online, with the goal of attracting more people during the lockdown. The board is promoting and boosting the use of new technologies and payment methods to reduce the use of physical currencies to adapt to this new reality.