Council committee formed for Pagcor funds, licenses

CEBU, Philippines —  A committee that will review the projects charged to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) funds at the Cebu City Council was formed to ensure these are within the guidelines.

During the regular session last Tuesday, the council approved the resolution of Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia creating the committee on Pagcor funds and gaming licenses.

The committee will be headed by Councilor Renato Osmeña, Jr. and the members include Garcia and Councilor Phillip Zafra.

“There is a need to review projects and programs charged to Cebu City’s Pagcor funds to ensure its implementation,” read a portion of the approved resolution.

The city receives monthly assistance from Pagcor funds as its share of the latter’s operation of gaming centers and casinos in the city.

Based on Pagcor guidelines, the funds can be used for self-sustainable livelihood projects, scholarships, infrastructure projects that are essential to the community and projects connected with the delivery of basic health services.

“The funds may also be used for projects that will improve peace and order in the city, extend emergency assistance to victims of natural disaster and calamities and terrorism and other projects that will help alleviate poverty” he said.

Other projects that can be charged against the Pagcor funds are the de-clogging of and collection of garbage in sewers and canals, construction of sanitation facilities in depressed areas, and projects that would prevent widespread diseases or epidemics.

Garcia said one of the requirements for the approval of a Pagcor gaming licenses is a “no objection of such application from the City Council.”

“There is a need to ensure that the Pagcor gaming licenses issued within Cebu City are regular, proper, and beneficial to the City,” he added.

During the session, Councilor Eugenio Gabuya referred his two proposed resolutions granting full amusement tax exemption to the gross admission receipts of Spotlight Dance Studio which is holding a fundraising recital on July 14 at the Cinema 1 of SM City Cebu; and approving the application of Toledo E-Games, Inc. to operate a Pagcor operated e-games in Barangays Basak San Nicolas and Suba.

The committee on Pagcor funds and gaming licenses will review the two proposed resolutions of Gabuya and it will render its comments and recommendations.

As for the second resolution, the City Council scheduled an executive session on August 13 to discuss the application of Toledo E-games in Barangays Basak San Nicolas and Suba. — GAN (FREEMAN)