President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. exchanges pleasantries with House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez during the 40th anniversary of the PAGCOR at the Grand Ballroom of the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. Photo by VER NOVENO
Tengco: New PAGCOR logo symbolizes flame that ignites change, drives progress
THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is proud of its past and at the same time raring to embrace the future.
This can be gleaned from the remarks of PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alejandro Tengco during the corporation’s 40th anniversary celebration Tuesday at the Grand Ballroom of the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.
“To my fellow PAGCORIANS, your passion is phenomenal and your commitment is beyond question! Truly, all of you are PAGCOR’s pride! Muli, ikinararangal ko na maging bahagi ng araw na ito…Maligayang anibersaryo sa ating lahat,” Tengco said in his speech at the event, which was graced by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta- Marcos, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, just to name a few.
“Cong. Tony Calixto, Mayor Emi Calixto, Members of the PAGCOR Board of Directors, fellow PAGCORIANS, other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat!” he added.
Serving as highlight of the event was the unveiling of PAGCOR’s modern and striking logo, which “symbolizes a new beginning–the dawn of a new hope for a better and brighter tomorrow under the administration of President Marcos.
As to the design, the new PAGCOR logo incorporates the element of fire associated with energy, inspiration, passion, and transformation.
“It symbolizes the flame that ignites change and drives progress. The logo likewise reflects a beacon which symbolizes guidance, leadership and direction. It represents a guiding light that helps people find their way,” the PAGCOR chair said.
The new emblem reflects PAGCOR’s long standing commitment of being a guiding force that illuminates the way forward, drives transformation and development, and brings inspiration and motivation to the lives it touches.
Thr event was also about PAGCOR reminding itself of it very high performance standards throughout the decades as a way to set the bar for its gleaming future.
“For 40 years, PAGCOR’s recorded total contributions to Nation Building (CNB) amounted to around ?607 billion. In terms of dividends, since 2011, PAGCOR has remitted a total of ?64 billion to the National Treasury. This brings its actual total contributions to ?671 billion,” Tengco proudly said.
He noted that so far under the Marcos administration, PAGCOR’s CNB has contributed ?45 billion as of June 30, 2023. The CNB projection by the end of 2023 is ?70 billion, he said.
PAGCOR is more than just producing sheer revenue for the government; Tengco said that when Republic Act (RA)11223, or the “Universal Health Care Act” was passed into law in 2019, PAGCOR has been tapped as a funding source in which 50 percent of its remittances to the National Treasury has been allocated to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to fund the Universal Health Care benefits of Filipinos.
In terms of recent contributions to infrastructure, Tengco said PAGCOR, in partnership with Melco Resorts Foundation Corporation and Bloomberry Foundation, respectively, funded the construction of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) Station Hospital (with a 51-bed capacity) and OFW Hospital and Diagnostic Center (100-bed capacity).
It was during the event that Tengco announced the launch of the “Bawat Buhay Mahalaga Serbisyo Caravan”, which he described as “an all-encompassing endeavor focused on the distribution of educational, medical, and financial assistance, among others, to various local government units and their citizens”.
“We will also donate 250 units of Patient Transport Vehicles all over the Philippines, in coordination with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO),” he said.
The PAGCOR head also announced plans to construct the country’s first ever regional specialty hospital in Clark Freeport Economic Zone, Pampanga.
To be known as the Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center, the facility will serve residents of Regions I, II, and III.
“Ang funding para sa Phase I ng proyekto ay magmumula po sa Bloomberry Foundation ng Solaire Resort and Casino. Ang medical equipment at ibang mga gamit naman ay magmumula sa PAGCOR, gayundin sa mga iba’t ibang foundation ng mga casino licensees natin,” Tengco said, adding that the special hospital is in line with President Marcos’ promise from his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) last year.
