Pagcor to increase PSC remittances

MANILA, Philippines - Apparently expecting more revenues from state-run casinos, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. is projecting an increase of about P100 million in its remittances to the Philippine Sports Commission for the country’s sports program for 2012.

“Last year, we allocated a total of P594 million to the PSC, which is higher by 14.23 percent compared to our 2010 PSC contributions. (For this year), We’re projecting our contribution to reach about P700 million so that’s an additional P100-million for Philippine sports,” Pagcor chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat Jr. said recently.

The state gaming firm is among the sources of funding for the government sports body, with Republic Act 6847 allotting five percent of Pagcor’s gross income to the PSC’s National Sports Development Fund.

The added funds are seen to go a long way as the PSC will implement a prioritization program in supporting the different national sports associations in 2012, earmarking higher allowances for the “elite athletes.”

“We’ve no official communication from Pagcor about an increase but we hope it does. Any additional funds is welcome,” said PSC chairman Richie Garcia during yesterday’s awarding of incentives to bowler Lisa del Rosario, soft tennis player Joseph Arcilla, and coaches Dansker Tonolete (bowling) and Giovanni Mamawal (soft tennis).

The PSC, which will get P178 million from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the year, earlier received an extra P5 million for its grassroots programs from Sen. Pia Cayetano.

Meanwhile, Garcia led the awarding of a total of P2.5 million to the latest batch of athletes and coaches as bonuses for achievements in previous world meets, as per RA 9064 or the Sports Incentives Act.

Tonolete received P1.25 million for coaching Biboy Rivera in his gold winning stint (masters event) in the 2006 World Men’s Championship in Busan Korea. Del Rosario was rewarded P500,000 for her bronze medal (singles) in the World Games in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei in 2009, as did Arcilla for his third place in the 14th World Soft Tennis Championship in Mungyeong, South Korea last year. Arcilla’s mentor, Mamawal got P250,000.