BY NICK GIONGCO
The Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) continues to support the cause of the national athletes and coaches, declaring that it has so far contributed a total of P409.01 million to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) from the period January to March 2020.
The Pagcor was forced to come out with a statement to correct claims made by commissioner Mon Fernandez that the gaming corporation has put its allocation to the PSC on hold amid the pandemic.
Fernandez made the claims during meeting with the PSC Board a few days ago and he raised the possibility of giving the athletes and coaches an amelioration package as it expects a slowdown in the release of their monthly allowances.
“Contrary to Commissioner Fernandez’s statement, PAGCOR wishes to clarify that it has just remitted P150.75 million to PSC on March 31, 2020,” the Pagcor said in a statement.
“This amount represents the state-gaming agency’s mandated contribution to PSC for the month of February 2020 alone. Likewise the Pagcor has already released P99.42 million for its mandated contributions to PSC for the month of March, the PSC, however, has not claimed the check.”
The amount was 4.7 percent lower compared to last year for the same period given the operations are being affected by COVID-19.
The Pagcor likewise bared that in 2019, it remitted P1.79 billion, excluding the P842 million grant for the rehabilitation of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and the Philsports in Pasig , facilities used for the hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
A copy of the Pagcor’s statement has been forwarded to PSC chairman Butch Ramirez.
