Pagcor’s Classroom Construction and PTVs Under Question
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s (Pagcor) approach to prioritizing areas for classroom construction and patient transport vehicle (PTV) distribution has come under scrutiny. Officials revealed that no formal written guidelines currently govern these allocations.
During a House of Representatives committee on appropriations hearing, the exact method Pagcor uses to determine which localities receive these projects was questioned. Deputy Speaker and Misamis Oriental 2nd District Representative Yevgeny Emano sought clarity from Pagcor chairperson and CEO Alejandro Tengco on how the corporation manages these critical social responsibility initiatives.
Pagcor Relies on Other Agencies for Prioritization
Tengco explained that Pagcor depends heavily on the Department of Education (DepEd) to identify areas most in need of classrooms. Similarly, for the distribution of PTVs, coordination is done with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). “Regarding the input for school buildings, we get from DepEd information on which areas are really in dire need — because with our budget for 2025, Pagcor can only fund 125 school buildings — so we are getting information from DepEd and at the same time we are getting letter-requests and we are asking our social responsibility department to check if the request is in accordance with needs,” Tengco said.
He added that Pagcor has already released 44 PTVs and continues to distribute them based on PCSO coordination. “The mandate of the President is that each municipality, each city, and each province would get [PTV], so what Pagcor prioritizes in coordination with PCSO are the areas that have not received as of now,” Tengco noted. He described Pagcor’s role as augmenting PCSO’s efforts due to the high volume of requests.
Concerns Raised About Allocation Fairness
However, Representative Emano raised concerns that some areas with greater need were overlooked while others received multiple PTVs despite already having one. “Madam Chair, is that a policy, that those who have not received PTVs will be prioritized? I beg to disagree, Madam Chair, because in the province of Misamis Oriental I saw that they have given a municipality, a city which was already able to receive from PCSO, so that’s double. That’s not a policy. What I’m asking is written policy,” Emano stated during the hearing.
Under continued questioning, Tengco admitted, “The policy is not actually a written policy. As I said for the Department of Education, we’re getting the information from them. So we are just funders, because they alone have the expertise as to where those classrooms should be constructed. So we are really coordinating with PCSO regarding the PTVs, and you’re correct that there are people who write letter-requests and we assess the areas if they need it, and then we grant it.” He acknowledged that no specific guidelines exist and that Pagcor depends on the discretion of DepEd and PCSO.
Pagcor Commits to Transparency and Fairness
Tengco assured he would investigate the issues pointed out by Emano. He emphasized that Pagcor aims to distribute resources fairly without favoritism. “Anyway, we will be coordinating with you, Congressman Emano, especially with what you said about areas receiving PTVs even if they have received one or two already, we will be coordinating with your office to clarify this matter,” Tengco said.
He added, “If we have shortcomings regarding the details you asked for earlier, we ask for understanding. Actually, this is the first time in the history of Pagcor that we are signing a memorandum of understanding with the respective agencies. But please be assured that we do not have favoritism. It is my instruction to the department concerned that I would want these projects to be spread all over the Philippines.” Community members noted that Pagcor and PCSO attend budget deliberations not as funding applicants but as government income-generating bodies.
Current Classroom Projects and PTV Distribution
Pagcor’s earnings partly fund classroom construction. Tengco explained that funding resumed this year after a Commission on Audit (COA) directive to complete previously started projects. A memorandum of understanding exists between Pagcor and DepEd, with the Department of Public Works and Highways overseeing project evaluations.
Tengco identified eight of the initial 13 locations for new school buildings: Digos in Davao del Sur (Region XI); Ormoc in Leyte (Region VIII); Quezon province (Region IV-A); Tarlac and Pampanga (Region III); Caloocan City (National Capital Region); Palawan (Region IV-B); Nueva Ecija (Region III); and Cagayan de Oro (Region X).
Government Push for Nationwide PTV Access
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared in July that every local government unit (totaling 1,642) would receive at least one PTV by the end of 2025. Following this, PCSO reported turning over 387 new ambulances to local governments in Luzon, underscoring the administration’s commitment to expanding emergency transport services.
For more news and updates on Pagcor classroom construction and PTVs, visit Filipinokami.com.
