Pump-priming the Healthcare Sector
In line with the government’s aim to strengthen the country’s healthcare sector and provide the majority of Filipinos easier access to quality healthcare, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has provided much-needed financial support to the local health sector.
In the past six years (2016 – 2022), PAGCOR has infused a total of P1.074 billion to several health-related programs of the national government and several public medical institutions, on top of its mandated contributions. A significant portion of said amount was utilized for the country’s COVID-19 response through financial grants to various hospitals and agencies for the purchase of medical equipment, medicines, personal protective equipment (PPEs), among others.
One of the medical institutions that received notable funding from PAGCOR was Southern Philippines Medical Center, which was granted P350 million for the procurement of Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machine. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also received P200 million from PAGCOR for the purchase of medical equipment for the OFW Hospital in Pampanga. The other recipients of substantial grants from the agency for the acquisition of various medical equipment or upgrading of their facilities were the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health (P20 million); Province of Albay for the repair and rehabilitation of Dr. Lorenzo Ziga Memorial District Hospital and Cagraray District Hospital (P70 million); Philippine General Hospital (P10 million); Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (P30 million); Bicol Medical Center (P49.98 million) and Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (P28 million), among others.
Apart from the said medical institutions, PAGCOR extended financial assistance to several towns and cities for the procurement of hospital equipment and items to be used in battling COVID-19. The agency likewise demonstrated appreciation to the sacrifices of the frontliners who selflessly served their communities amidst the dangers of the pandemic. PAGCOR gave recognition to the noble act of the doctors, nurses, medical technologists, policemen, barangay and social workers by providing them with personal protective equipment (PPE), grocery packs and medical equipment.
Under the term of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, PAGCOR was also tapped as a funding source for the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law or Republic Act 11223, in which 50% of the state-gaming firm’s remittances to the National Treasury were allocated to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to fund the UHC benefits.
Meanwhile, PAGCOR’s licensed casinos made substantial contributions to supplement the agency’s support for the health sector. Melco Resorts (Philippines) Foundation Corporation (MRPFC), the charitable arm of City of Dreams Manila, in particular, donated P150 million to Parañaque City to purchase vaccines and aid various beneficiaries gravely affected by the pandemic. MRPFC likewise conceptualized and funded the construction of the P1.18 billion state-of-the-art hospital for the Presidential Security Group at the Malacañang Park in Manila, while PAGCOR committed P89.24 million for various medical equipment and supplies. The said facility was formally inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte on November 10, 2021.
Resorts World Philippines Cultural Heritage Foundation (RWPCHF), the charitable arm of Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc. which operates Resorts World Manila, meanwhile, allocated P500 million for the construction of the NCRPO Medical Center at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Solaire Resorts’ Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, Inc. (BCFI) donated P98.32 million for the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) rehabilitation, which sought to build additional spaces to accommodate more patients needing extreme medical care. BCFI also donated P521 million to build the first hospital dedicated for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their dependents PAGCOR released a P200 million grant for the facility’s modern equipment. President Duterte personally inspected the OFW Hospital in Pampanga last May 1, 2022.
“Lubos na paghamon ang dala ng COVID-19 sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Halos lahat ay kinailangang manatili sa loob ng bahay para sa kaligtasan. Subalit may mga taong kaakibat sa kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin ang sumuong sa panganib upang maglingkod sa kapwa. Halos wala nang uwian o tulugan — karaniwan na sa kanila ang ganyang kalagayan. Sila ang ating mga frontliners, na maaaring kinabibilangan ng ating mga magulang, anak, kapatid, kamag-anak, kaibigan o kahit kakilala lang. Ang PAGCOR ay nakikiisa sa mga frontliners. PAGtugon sa panahon ng pandemya... PAGCOR Bahagi ng COVID-19 response ng PAGCOR sa gitna ng pandemya ang pagpapalabas nito ng halos P1 bilyong pondo para sa health sector na ginamit sa pagpapatayo at pagpapakumpuni ng ilang pagamutan, pagbili ng medical equipment at ibang kagamitan at pamamahagi ng health kits sa lahat ng sektor na nasa frontline at iba pa.”
PAGCOR pours in substantial grants to major health facilities, and LGUs. Learn more about their contributions on www.facebook.com/pagcor.ph; www.twitter.com/pagcorph; and pagcor.ph