Thu| 10.21.2021 | 12:00 PM

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo (2nd from right) turns over the agency’s P50 million grant to Pola Mayor Jennifer Cruz of Oriental Mindoro (extreme right) on October 20, 2021 for the construction of a two-storey Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center. Also in photo are (from left) PAGCOR Directors Jimmy Bondoc, Gabriel Claudio, and PAGCOR President and COO Alfredo Lim.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo (4th from left) turns over to Occidental Mindoro Governor Eduardo Gadiano (3rd from right) on October 20, 2021 the agency’s P50 million financial aid for the construction of a two-storey Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center. Also in photo are (from left) PAGCOR Directors Jimmy Bondoc, Gabriel Claudio, PAGCOR President and COO Alfredo Lim, Occidental Mindoro Provincial Treasurer Nancy Rubio, and Consultant Edgar Avengonzar.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo (4th from left) releases the agency’s P50 million grant to Virac Mayor Sinforoso Sarmiento of Catanduanes (2nd from right) on October 20, 2021 for the construction of a two-storey Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center. Also in photo are (from left) PAGCOR Directors Jimmy Bondoc, Gabriel Claudio, PAGCOR President and COO Alfredo Lim, and Virac Municipal Treasurer Concepcion Benavidez.

As the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) continues to address the need of various communities for typhoon resilient evacuation centers, the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Virac, Catanduanes and Victoria, Tarlac became the latest beneficiaries of the state-run gaming agency’s Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center (MPEC) project.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo together with the members of the Board formally turned over P25 million each – which represents the first tranche of the P50 million funding – to Occidental Mindoro Governor Eduardo Gadiano, Pola Mayor Jennifer Cruz of Oriental Mindoro, Virac Mayor Sinforoso Sarmiento of Catanduanes, and Victoria Mayor Christian Tell Yap of Tarlac.

Because of the recent grant, PAGCOR has now initially released a total of P1.084 billion for the construction of the 48 PAGCOR-funded evacuation centers nationwide.

Domingo expressed optimism that PAGCOR’s MPEC project will properly augment the evacuation facilities of many local government units (LGUs) and ease the burden of evacuees. “We are very happy that we are able to help LGUs through this long-term project. With the completion of these evacuation centers all over the country, many of our kababayans will have a safe place to go during the typhoon season,” she explained.

Mayor Jennifer Cruz of Pola, Oriental Mindoro expressed her gratitude to the PAGCOR management after a third class municipality like Pola was strategically chosen as one of the project’s beneficiaries. “Isang maliit na bayan lang kami and yet napansin kami ng PAGCOR. Sobrang thankful kami dahil isa ito sa napakalaking project na mapupunta sa aming bayan. Konting ulan lamang kasi, baha na sa amin at wala kaming ‘ganung kalaking facility para sa evacuees, lalo na sa mga bata at matatanda. Maari rin itong gamitin para sa livelihood trainings at drug rehabilitation programs,” the town chief said. The P50 million MPEC in Pola will soon rise in the town’s Barangay Malibago.

Mayor Christian Tell Yap of Victoria, Tarlac was also grateful that their town will be able to benefit from PAGCOR’s MPEC project. “Itatayo ang PAGCOR evacuation center beside our Rural Health Unit 3 in Barangay Balayang. It will not just serve as temporary shelter during typhoons but will also be a venue for our livelihood and health programs such as vaccination activities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Sinforoso Sarmiento of Virac, Catanduanes shared that the soon-to-rise MPEC in their disaster-prone locality will be used not only as an evacuation area but also as sports and livelihood training venue.

“Ang LGU ng Virac ay taus-pusong nagpapasalamat sa partnership namin sa PAGCOR dahil napakaganda at kapaki-pakinabang nitong multi-purpose building project,” Sarmiento said. The PAGCOR-funded MPEC in Catanduanes will be built in Barangay Cavinitan.

As for Occidental Mindoro Governor Eduardo Gadiano, the PAGCOR MPEC to be built in Barangay Payompon will be of great help to the locals of Mamburao town. “Bilang project implementor, sisiguruhin nating magiging maayos ang proyekto,” he said.

Aside from Mindoro provinces, Catanduanes, and Tarlac, among other areas that already received MPEC funding from PAGCOR were the provinces of Cagayan, Pampanga, Albay, Camarines Sur, Mountain Province, Ilocos Sur, Quezon Province, Zamboanga del Sur, Romblon, Capiz, Samar, Aurora, Bataan, Southern Leyte, Batangas, Laguna, Pangasinan, Isabela, Cavite, Laguna, Isabela, and Caloocan.

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