Pagcor earmarks P12.1 billion for disaster resilience

MANILA, Philippines — About P12.1 billion in government funds has been allotted by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to help disaster-prone communities across the country survive calamities.

Pagcor chairman Al Tengco told members of the appropriations committee of the House of Representatives during Tuesday’s budget hearing that they have earmarked between P30 million to P50 million in “disaster resilience” funds for legislative districts.

Panel chairman Rep. Zaldy Co (Ako Bicol party-list) said such funds are crucial in ensuring the safety and survival of the country’s disaster-prone areas, just like their Southern Luzon area, or the entire Bicol region which is pummeled by about 20 typhoons yearly.

“This Pagcor provision, totaling between P7.29 billion to P12.15 billion for the country’s 243 legislative districts, is particularly significant as the country again braces for two weather disturbances, Tropical Depression Gardo and Super Typhoon Hinnamnor,” he said.

“We thank chairman Tengco for agreeing to provide evacuation and disaster resilience buildings. This amount will help each district cope with typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions that frequent our country,” Co added.

The Pagcor chief reported to the House leadership that their income for 2021 reached P35.48 billion, and that for the first half of the year, Pagcor’s income already stood at P26.7 billion.

Recognizing that disaster preparedness and recovery should be the top priority in disaster-prone Philippines, Pagcor in 2019 allotted P3.5 billion for the construction of multi-purpose evacuation centers and started building safe havens for 77 disaster-prone areas nationwide.

To date, 15 evacuation facilities have been completed in various parts of the country.

During the January 2020 Taal earthquake, Pagcor provided permanent shelters to displaced locals.

In its Pagcor Village project, which cost P30 million, it provided 100 units of 30-square-meter houses for the displaced residents in the towns of Agoncillo, Lemery, Balete and Mataasnakahoy.

During the hearing, Co noted that aside from being one of the top revenue generating offices of government, Pagcor is also the source of funding for social projects for Filipino youth, poor families and Universal Health Care beneficiaries.