PAGCOR’s top executives — President and COO Alfredo C. Lim (left), Chairman and CEO Andrea D. Domingo (middle), and Director Reynaldo E. Concordia — inspect the fresh produce to be distributed during the roll-out of “PAGkain Para sa Masa”, the agency’s food caravan project.
PAGCOR officers launch “PAGkain Para sa Masa” food caravan project
THE top management of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) volunteered to pool their personal funds to help provide healthy meals to some low-income families in urban communities through the “PAGkain Para sa Masa”.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo, who led the project’s launch on May 4, 2021, said the agency’s Executive Committee members and friends contributed out of their own pockets to buy food items for distribution to households that are in dire need of help. A brainchild of the PAGCOR chief, the project aims to distribute healthy food items, such as fresh produce to those who really cannot afford to buy basic meals for their families.
“Nakita ko ang mga pumipila doon sa mga food distribution outlets, isang kilometro na ang pila, alas kwatro ng umaga kumukuha na ng kakaunting gulay. Mercy should not demean, instead, it should show genuine concern. This is why we launched this project. We have already pooled initial funding from our colleagues, friends, and volunteer employees,” she said.
Domingo added that the goods to be distributed to communities will be composed mainly of fresh vegetables, which are directly sourced from farmers whose sources of livelihood are also affected by the lockdowns.
“Through the help of the Department of Agriculture, we were able to buy directly from the farmers. The purchasing power of our funds were doubled when we bought the vegetables directly from the farmers. Thus, we were able to buy two kilos of vegetables instead of one kilo had we gotten them from other sources. This way also, we are able to provide income for our farmers,” Domingo added.
The volunteerism among, not only the managers of PAGCOR but also the rest of the 11,000 employees, make them appreciate the blessings they have and the joy of sharing these with the less fortunate.
The “PAGkain Para sa Masa” is similar to a food caravan where the items will be brought directly to pre-determined beneficiaries to ensure that long queues are avoided while health protocols are strictly observed. It will initially roll-out on May 5, 2021 in Quezon City.
