The Ad Standards Council (ASC) honored Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco for his leadership in promoting responsible advertising in the gaming industry during the council’s Patas na Patalastas Summit in Makati City.
Tengco received a Plaque of Appreciation from the ASC, recognizing his efforts to ensure ethical and truthful gambling-related advertisements. The PAGCOR chief emphasized that the recognition belonged not only to him but also to PAGCOR employees who remain committed to fairness, truth, and accountability in their duties.
“Industries like ours carry an even greater responsibility to protect public trust,” Tengco stated during the ceremony. “Our partnership with ASC ensures that gambling-related advertisements are not only creative and compelling but also ethical, truthful, and mindful of their impact on society.”
The recognition comes months after PAGCOR and the ASC signed a memorandum of understanding in July that formalized their collaboration on gambling advertisement regulation. Under the agreement, all gambling-related advertisements across television, radio, online, and outdoor platforms must undergo ASC review and approval before public release.
The MoU added gambling to the ASC’s list of ‘must-screen’ categories, joining alcoholic beverages, over-the-counter medicines, food supplements, airline services with promotional fares, and breast milk substitutes. The measure aims to curb misleading content and protect vulnerable groups from potential harm.
As part of stricter regulatory measures, PAGCOR also ordered the removal of all outdoor gambling billboards last month. Tengco described these actions as proof that “when it comes to protecting the public, we will always choose to do what is right.”
Tengco commended the ASC for its role in upholding truth, decency, and accountability in Philippine advertising. The ASC summit brought together regulators, advertisers, and industry stakeholders to reinforce collaborative efforts in ensuring truthful, ethical, and accountable advertising practices in the Philippines.
