PAGCOR to fund additional evacuation centres in Batangas

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp has released more support for the province of Batangas.

The Philippines.- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has released an additional PHP80m for the construction of new multi-purpose evacuation centres and a permanent residential site in two towns in the province of Batangas.

PAGCOR, together with Agoncillo city officials, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the city’s first MPEC at the Barangay Pancipit Children’s Park. The community where the building will be built is approximately 14 kilometres from the permanent danger zone. 

The first tranche of the PHP50m worth of MPEC, amounting to PHP25m was released in December 2021. Last February, Agoncillo received PHP30m from the regulator to build a residential complex called “PAGCOR Village” for Tal evacuees. The complex is 30 per cent complete.

Agoncillo mayor Daniel Reyes said the PAGCOR-funded MPEC would replace a previous evacuation centre, which collapsed due to the eruption of the Batangas Taal volcano. 

PAGCOR’s VP for corporate social responsibility Ramon Stephen Villaflor, stated: “Previously, the flagship project of PAGCOR is the school buildings. 

“However, since the need arose for evacuation centres and the schools we built are also being used as evacuation facilities, our Chairman Andrea Domingo sought to have facilities intended for such purpose alone.”

In February, the regulator awarded PHP125.4m to four local government units for the construction of evacuation centres in their localities. The cities of New Bataan and Maragusan in Davao de Oro have each received the first tranche of PHP50m. 

The towns of Dilasag and Dipaculao in Aurora have received the first tranche of the PHP12.7m for MPECs to be constructed in the barangays Dilaguidi and Dinadiawan.