The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the state gaming regulator, has earmarked PHP 56.2 billion ($992 million) for nation-building initiatives in 2024.
This allocation represents an increase of nearly 17 percent or PHP8 billion ($141 million) compared to the current year, reflecting the agency’s anticipation of surpassing pre-pandemic revenue levels.
The 2024 amount includes PHP12.1 billion ($214 million) for PAGCOR’s socio-civic projects that includes the construction of school buildings, e-learning centers and community wellness centers as well as its mandatory dividends to the national government.
“We are pleased to say that PAGCOR shall again contribute to nation-building in a major way next year with the gaming industry’s completely recovery and return to growth that was halted by the pandemic,” said PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco.
Tengco made the remarks after the PAGCOR board approved the agency’s 2024 revenue projections during its annual planning conference in Baguio City where the agency said it expects net operating income to hit PHP61.5 billion ($1.1 billion) in the coming year.
Should it realize its projections, the biggest slice of PAGCOR’s contributions for 2024 is the 50 percent government share from its operating income estimated at PHP37.5 billion ($662 million) followed by the socio-civic component at PHP12.12 billion (214 million).
Another major contribution to the national coffers is the 5 percent franchise tax amounting to PHP3.95 billion ($70 million) and the share of the Philippine Sports Commission at PHP1.87 billion ($33 million). Cities that host casinos will get PHP451 million ($8 million) while sports incentives and benefits will receive PHP100 million ($1.8 million).
Tengco said PAGCOR will launch new flagship socio-civic projects next January that will prioritize poor and remote communities in the Visayas and Mindanao where new school buildings, e-learning centers, community wellness centers and socio-civic centers will be built.
“Let us be inspired that we are truly part of nation-building,” Tengco told the planning conference attendees. “As government workers, we are duty-bound to serve our country but as Filipinos, we are foremost called to help lay the foundations of a better nation.”
