THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has provided a total of P317.7 million to fund the respective projects of six local government units are seeking to bolster their disaster response efforts and strengthen support systems for their constituents during crisis situations.
On December 15, 2021, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo led the turnover of the cash donations to the municipalities of Botolan, Zambales; Arayat, Pampanga; Agoncillo, Batangas; Plaridel, Quezon; Bula, Camarines Sur and the city of Pasay. The ceremony was held at the PAGCOR Executive Office in Manila.
Botolan, Arayat, Agoncillo and Bula received P25 million each or the first tranche of their respective P50 million grants for the construction of two-storey multi-purpose evacuation centers (MPECs) in said towns, while Plaridel got an initial funding of P6,350,000 to commence the building of a covered court-type MPEC worth P12.7 million.
The city government of Pasay, meanwhile, was initially given P30 million of their P55 million grant for the renovation of the Doña Nena Multi-Purpose and Evacuation Center Building and the Malibay Multi-Purpose Center. Part of the said amount will also be utilized to fund the city’s program dubbed “Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations” (AICS).
Domingo said the state-run gaming firm’s latest grants are meant to help supplement the recipients’ existing facilities, which, if not conducive for evacuation purposes, are lacking in necessary amenities to comfortably accommodate many people in cases of disaster.
“We have already funded the construction of multi-purpose evacuation centers in different communities nationwide, and we will continue to provide the necessary funding to build more emergency structures in other calamity-prone areas to ensure that those who will be affected by various disasters in the future will have safe and comfortable place to stay when they need to evacuate their homes during calamities and other emergency situations,” she explained.
To date, the agency has already released a total of P1.466 billion for the construction of MPECs in 64 sites nationwide.#
