The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) got a much-needed boost from the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) after the latter pledged to fund the construction and upgrade of key facilities of the country’s premier military training institution on Saturday, Feb. 15.
Pagcor Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco, who served as the guest of honor and speaker at this year’s PMA Alumni Homecoming in Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City, said the corporation would finance the construction of a new PMA Candidate Control Liason Office, a modern warfare laboratory, martial arts studio, and an Olympic-size swimming pool inside the academy.
“There are a few of your alumni who are officials of Pagcor today, and I can attest and say that they have helped me transform Pagcor where it is today. Part of this commitment to nation-building is supporting our men and women in uniform, as well as institutions like the Philippine Military Academy, to help nurture the next breed of leaders of our armed forces,” Tengco said in his speech.
According to the Pagcor chairman, he saw the current condition of the Candidate Control Liaison Office at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center in Quezon City during the inauguration of the AFP Medical Watcher’s Dormitory in January, and noticed it was already in a “sad state of deterioration” and “in need of a total rehabilitation and renovation”.
The Candidate Control Liaison Office is where PMA applicants undergo a complete physical exam to assess their readiness and fitness for the academy.
“Even before the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association could formally request for it, I would like to announce that the building would not only be rehabilitated or renovated, we will demolish it and construct a new facility which will welcome the new cadets of the Philippine Military Academy,” Tengco said.
Meanwhile, the construction of a modern warfare laboratory would be used by the different services of the AFP to research on advanced projects such as artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, unmanned systems, advanced weaponry, and strategic defense simulations – serving as a hub for innovation which could be integrated into the curriculum of the PMA.
Tengco also promised that the Pagcor would help in constructing a martial arts studio and Olympic-sized swimming pool at a vacant portion of a building inside the PMA. He also said that the Pagcor would donate patient transport vehicles to the PMA beginning next week.
“With grateful hearts, we will ensure that your sacrifices are never taken for granted and that you can always count on our cooperation and support,” he said.
PMA Superintendent, Vice Admiral Caesar Bernard Valencia expressed gratitude to Pagcor for their support to the academy as he noted that the funding support would further cultivate an environment conducive to learning for the cadets.
“We are ecstatic that the PMA will be continuing its collaboration with Pagcor. As Chairman Tengco said, PMA and Pagcor share a strong history of collaboration, and we are happy to continue that partnership,” he said.
Valencia bared that the PMA will introduce a new curriculum in 2026 which will include lessons on electronic warfare, cyber warfare, and artificial intelligence, hence, the need for bigger and more advanced facilities.
The Pagcor has been a long-time partner of the PMA and the AFP in general, according to Tengco.
In 2012, Pagcor released P105 million for the rehabilitation and improvement of the PMA Sports complex to improve the physical well-being of the cadets. Furthermore, in 2016, two of Pagcor's licensees, Solaire Resort and Casino and Newport World Resorts, donated P305 million for the construction of the PMA barracks through their respective foundations.
Three years later, in 2019, Solaire’s Bloomberg Cultural Foundation turned over another P335 million for the cadet barracks to give them a conducive environment for learning and growth. The foundation again provided P80 million for the repair and rehabilitation of the previously built PMA barracks after it already began showing signs of wear and tear.
In September 2023, Bloomberg Cultural Foundation and Newport World Resorts Foundation gave a total of P60 million for the construction of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center Magiting Veterans Wing.
Just last month, Pagcor, in partnership with the AFP Medical Center, inaugurated a new five-story watcher’s dormitory at the AFP Medical Center in Kesun City. Built with a P55-million grant from Pagcor, the halfway house now provides a safe and comfortable temporary home for families and caregivers of confined uniform personnel.
Currently, a two-story hospice dormitory building is being constructed at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center through a P123-million grant from Pagcor.
A P60-million multi-purpose office building is also now on its completion stage at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City for the members of the PMA Alumni Association Inc., which was funded by the Newport World Resorts Foundation.