The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation or PAGCOR donates $39 million to the Office of the President to fund the government’s efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
PAGCOR chairperson Andrea Domingo made the announcement Thursday. She told online bookie software sites that the agency remitted the amount to the Socio-Civic Projects Fund of the Office of the President. It is under Proclamation No. 922 that declared a State of Public Health Emergency in the Philippines.
President Rodrigo Duterte announced that Metro Manila would be on lockdown for a month. That way, they can contain the outbreak of the coronavirus. The World Health Organization classified COVID-19 as a pandemic on Wednesday.
PAGCOR Donates Millions
President Duterte told gambling software providers that the country would restrict entry for travelers from countries with local transmissions. Also, he ordered the suspension of domestic travel to and from Metro Manila starting March 15 to April 14. The order will subject to daily review.
The number of confirmed patients with coronavirus in the Philippines continues to increase. As a result, the president declared a state of a public health emergency. PAGCOR wanted to help the agencies concerned in preventing the spread of the virus through its donation.
Also, PAGCOR told bookie PPH sources that the agency managed to maintain its income for gaming operations in the nation. Thus, it can provide a large number of donations to fund several projects of the government.
However, the gaming sector is likely to miss its target revenue of PHP290 billion due to the coronavirus. In a separate statement, Domingo said that all requests and applications connected to gaming licensing, casino operations, and accreditations are done online. The policy will be in effect until the lifting of the public health emergency.
