Pagcor says sports body failed to liquidate P3B
CLARK FREEPORT—The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has not liquidated the P3 billion it received as its 5 percent share from revenues of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) in the last three years, according to the gaming agency chair and chief executive officer, Andrea Domingo.
During a media forum here on Friday, Domingo was asked if the PSC share could be tapped to transfer the Rizal Memorial Coliseum from Manila to this economic zone.
Former Pampanga Rep. Joseller Guiao, who served as vice chair of the House committee on youth and sports development, had pushed for the transfer of the coliseum to a 50-hectare land here that could cost P3.5 billion.
The PSC had challenged the computation of the share it received from Pagcor, Domingo said.
In June, Pagcor gave P108 million to PSC, she said, adding: “I hope there’s transparency. I want to know if [Pagcor contributions] benefited athletes.”
The 5 percent share of PSC from January to June totaled P619.5 million, according to Pagcor financial documents posted on its website.
PSC Chair William Ramirez could not be reached for comment.
The sports body’s website reported an income of P262.5 million from Pagcor and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office from January to March 2016. The PSC has a projected income of P1 billion from the two state agencies, according to its website.
During the forum, Domingo had suggested the creation of a single trust fund for Pagcor’s income to be disbursed according to the general appropriations act.
In the first six months, P17.4 billion of the agency’s income went to an account collectively called “Contributions to Nation Building.” This is where the PSC share is taken.
Domingo also said Pagcor has already revoked 124 online gaming licenses and would at least 600 more in compliance with President Duterte’s order to stop internet-based gambling that caters to Filipino bettors.
She said the agency stood to lose up to P10 billion in revenue as a result of the closures of online gaming outlets but the amount would not make a dent in Pagcor’s target of raising at least P50 billion in revenue next year.
Mr. Duterte has ordered all income from Pagcor to be used on health services for the poor.
