Fri | 02.12.2021 | 10:30 AM

PAGCOR officials headed by Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo (3rd from left) and President and COO Alfredo Lim (4th from left) turn over the check representing its financial grant to Romblon Governor Jose Riano (2nd from right) for the construction of a Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center at Sibuyan District Hospital Compound.

Also in photo are (from left) PAGCOR Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility Jimmy Bondoc, PAGCOR Director Reynaldo Concordia and Romblon Provincial Administrator Atty. Lizette Mortel.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has sealed its partnership with the provincial government of Romblon and the municipality of Dinas in Zamboanga del Sur after the state-run gaming agency approved the funding for the construction of a Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center (MPEC) in these areas.

PAGCOR initially released P25 million to each recipient local government unit (LGU) on February 11, 2021 for them to jumpstart the construction of evacuation centers in their localities. With a budget of P50 million, each two-storey MPEC has provision for kitchen area, storage areas for relief goods, toilet and shower rooms for male and female, lactating rooms for nursing mothers, and a spacious badminton-court type area that may be used for sports events and other purposes when it is not being used as an evacuation site.

In the province of Romblon, the PAGCOR-funded MPEC will be constructed in Sibuyan District Hospital Compound in Poblacion, Cajidiocan, while the evacuation center in Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur will be built in Brgy. Legarda Uno. Both structures will see completion within a year.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo, who spearheaded the turnover of cheques to Romblon and Dinas town in Zamboanga del Sur, proudly noted that the agency’s vision of providing well-built evacuation centers even to far-flung communities, is now becoming a reality.

“The MPEC project is a testament of PAGCOR’s continuing commitment to nation-building. While this will not be possible if not for our hardworking and dedicated employees, the support of our partner LGUs are also equally important for this project to prosper. We hope that this evacuation centers will not only provide temporary shelters to affected families in times of calamities, but also serve as an instrument for preserving the lives and dignity of less privileged Filipinos,” the PAGCOR chief said.

Romblon Governor Jose Riano, who personally received the first tranche of the MPEC funding, shared that the MPEC to be built in their province will benefit three municipalities in Sibuyan Island. “PAGCOR has been very generous to us. Apart from this evacuation center, we have been a recipient of PAGCOR’s many valuable programs, such as the school building project, computer and school kits donations, and relief operations,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Matt Nian of Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur assured PAGCOR that they will do their best to properly implement the project. “This project will definitely benefit the residents of Dinas, especially during calamities. This is the first time that we are in partnership with PAGCOR. We will do our best to take good care of the opportunity given to us,” he cited.

To date, PAGCOR has already bankrolled the construction of 14 evacuation centers in the country. Apart from the two MPECs in Romblon and Zamboanga del Sur, the state-run gaming firm has also released the first tranche of funding to two MPECs in Andres, Quezon; Taguidin, Ilocos Sur; Tadian, Mountain Province; Legazpi City and Ligao in Albay; Ocampo, Tigaon, San Jose, and Sagnay in Camarines Sur; and San Fernando and Floridablanca in Pampanga. The agency has allotted a total of P2 billion for the project.

Go back