CEBU City Mayor Edgardo Labella said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) might increase the share of the income it gives to the City Government.
The City has been receiving a “host city share” of P4 million every month from the Pagcor for over a decade already. The local government units where Pagcor operates are given a monthly share in the income of the casinos located in their city or province.
Mayor Edgardo Labella and Pagcor chairperson and chief executive officer Andrea Domingo met on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 at the house of Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Edward Hayco, discussing the projects that were funded by the City’s share in the income of Pagcor.
“After a discussion, she told us that she is happy that I am now the mayor and they are willing to collaborate, coordinate and work with me. In fact, she hinted that they are ready to augment or add to our monthly Pagcor funds that we are receiving,” Labella said.
Labella did not divulge any specific figure, but he is sure that the city’s share in the income generated by the government-run gambling institution would increase and this could help in funding the city’s programs under his administration in the next three years.
The mayor’s ally, Councilor Raymond Garcia, witnessed the meeting between Labella and Domingo.
He said the City will send a request letter to the office of Domingo, who in turn will tackle the matter during a board meeting for approval.
Labella said the increase, if approved by the Pagcor board, could help the City’s sports program, among others.
“It would pave the way for more projects in the city and more development programs for sports, especially in the grassroots level in our barangays, including the mountain barangays that have less access to sports,” he said.
The mayor urged Hayco to continue the latter’s dancesport program and improve it as it placed the city on the map of the world of dancesport. FROM PAC OF SUPERBALITA CEBU / KAL