PAGCOR earmarks PHP75m for three towns to build evacuation centres

The regulator has remitted PHP75m to the local governments of Borongan, Eastern Samar; Tacloban; and the town of Kananga in Leyte for the construction of Multi-Purpose Evacuation Centres (MPEC).

The Philippines.- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR) has remitted PHP75m to three towns in the Eastern Visayas region for the construction of two-storey Multi-Purpose Evacuation Centres (MPECs). The regulator has already released the first tranche of PHP25m to the local governments of Borongan, Eastern Samar; Tacloban; and the town of Kananga in Leyte.

Ramon Stephen Villaflor, PAGCOR’s Acting Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility, said: “This project is in response to the government’s priority to build more safe evacuation centres nationwide since the country is prone to various calamities such as typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.”

PAGCOR has released a total of PHP1.3bn for the construction of 57 MPECs since the project began last year. In November, the regulator remitted PHP150m to six towns and cities in the Bicol region and Quezon province. In September, it remitted PHP25m to the municipalities of Louisiana and Victoria.