Pagcor gives additional P2 billion to public school building program

The country’s public education sector received one of the biggest Christmas presents from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) this year with an additional P2 billion for the construction of more classrooms in public schools nationwide.

Pagcor said the additional P2-billion brought the state gaming firm’s total funding for the Matuwid na Daan Sa Silid-Aralan school building program to a staggering P12 billion.

Pagcor Chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat Jr. formally turned-over on Monday the additional allocation to Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro and Secretary Rogelio Singson of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The event was witnessed by no less than President Benigno Aquino III, who lauded Pagcor for its significant contributions to the public education sector and to nation-building.

Naguiat said Aquino’s presence made the event more meaningful.

“We are very thankful that the President graced this memorable gathering today. Since Pagcor launched its Pamaskong Handog project in 2010, President Aquino has always found time to join us in spreading happiness to less privileged Filipinos,” he said.

Both the DepEd and DPWH are Pagcor’s partners in the school building program. The DepEd identifies the schools with severe classroom shortage, DPWH constructs the school buildings, and PAGCOR provides the funding for the project.

Naguiat said the additional P2-billion for the Matuwid na Daan sa Silid-Aralan project will further widen the project’s reach. Just last April 2015, the state-run gaming agency also released P3 billion for the school building program.

 “All public school students especially those living in remote communities nationwide must have access to comfortable learning facilities. Quality education is the greatest gift that we can give them. By helping our government build sturdier classrooms for the youth, PAGCOR became instrumental in shaping their future. This is also one of the best Christmas presents that we can offer them,” he said.

Singson said Pagcor’s additional funding for the school building project only showed how the government values the education of the Filipino youth.

“This additional P2-billion will help provide more comfortable learning venues to thousands of public school students. Hopefully, through this program, we can continue to inspire the Filipino youth to study well, realize their full potential and eventually do their part in building a better nation someday,” the DPWH said in the same statement.

The turn-over of the P2-billion additional funding for the school building program coincided with Pagcor’s grand Christmas party for 3,100 street sweepers, members of the tricycle drivers and operators associations (TODA) and senior citizens from Quezon City. These sectors were the state gaming firm’s beneficiaries during the 11^th day of its Pamaskong Handog 2015.

House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, Jr., Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte also graced the grand Christmas celebration for Quezon City’s disadvantaged sectors.

Pagcor allocated P6.43 million for the event. Of this amount, P5.7 million was used to purchase noche buena gift packs containing ham, cheese, pasta noodles, cookies and other grocery items for the beneficiaries.

Naguiat said it was part of the agency’s tradition to spread Christmas cheers to the marginalized sectors of society during the yuletide season.

“Masaya po kami sa Pagcor na makapag-bahagi ng kasiyahan sa iba’t-ibang sektor ng ating lipunan sa tuwing Kapaskuhan. Mas naging espesyal po ang araw na ito dahil nagsama-sama ang iba’t-ibang grupo gaya ng street sweepers, mga miyembro ng TODA at senior citizens dito sa Quezon City sa isang pagtitipon,” he said.

Annabel Fercon, 37, a street sweeper in Kamuning, was one of the thousands of Quezon City locals who joined the festive Christmas party.

A mother of four and sole breadwinner of her family, Fercon said she was grateful because her job as a street sweeper enables her to send her children to school with her monthly income of P4,800.

“Malaking tulong po ang trabaho kong ito dahil ito ang pinangtu-tustos ko sa pangangailangan ng aking pamilya. Wala ding trabaho ang aking asawa. Dati, naglalako ako ng mga pabango pero ng mawalan na ng puhunan, ito na ang pinagkukunan namin ng kabuhayan,” she said.

Since her duty as a street sweeper starts at 2 a.m. until 7a.m., she said, she could do other part-time jobs and earn extra income. But even with extra jobs, she finds it hard to make both ends meet. This is the reason why she considers Pagcor’s gift as a big blessing.

“Dahil po sa mga Pamasko ninyo, may maihahanda na kaming masarap ngayong Pasko,” she said.

Pagcor’s Pamaskong Handog 2015 also benefited indigent and homeless families; orphaned and abandoned children; underprivileged kids with congenital heart disease; children with mental retardation, autism and multiple disabilities; the elderly; cultural minorities; abused and disadvantaged women; barangay health workers; disaster volunteers, among others.

The gaming firm allocated P25.35 million for the project which started last November 27 and will culminate on December 22. It will benefit close to 10,000 less fortunate Filipinos under the care of 33 charitable institutions nationwide.