I HAVE several friends working in the many casinos being operated by the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corporation (Pagcor). They are either card dealers, internal security people, junior and senior pit bosses now known as gaming area managers. Every chance I can have, I always love to trade stories with them over coffee. I do this, particularly on Saturday afternoon to attend their anticipated mass in one of their function rooms celebrated by Among Sonny Lumanog, parish priest of the Immaculate Conception of Balibago in Angeles City.
The workers of Pagcor love to talk about the good old days. Ah the good old days when the kind and understanding woman in Alice Reyes was the chairperson and retired air force general Romy David was president. The rank and file of Pagcor were given their fair share of the benefits of the gaming operation. Those were the days they recall. But today you hear nothing but gripes.
Now comes the story bannered in a business section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer that PAGCOR defied a massive slump in the regional gaming industry and 'posted a double-digit growth in revenue in 2015'.
In an interview, our cabalen from Angeles City, Cristino Naguiat, Jr. said the gross gaming revenue of the casino operation last year reached P130 billion or an increase of 17 percent. It exceeded their revenue target. And now the many questions. What's in it for the thousands of workers who in many years are posted in acting capacity and don't get the necessary compensation? The promotion of workers and upgrade of their salaries can be likened to the snail pace traffic movement of EDSA. When will management give what's due them? Pogi points and too many fringe benefits for the directors and the chairman of the PAGCOR board, and nothing for the common employees? Just asking.
Oldtimers in the gaming industry recall how a common card dealer in the early years of casino gambling can enjoy supporting even two or three families? The pre-martial law years casinos, as they used to call them were lined-up along then Dewey now Roxas Boulevard. They were closed when then President Ferdinand Marcos proclaimed martial law in 1972.
Then came the floating casino. This was also closed later, and in lieu were casinos operated by PCOC. (I can't remember what the acronym stands for). One of the brothers of then First Lady Imelda Marcos operated these casinos. The workers were given their fair share. Everybody happy. Not today, only Bong Naguiat and the directors are happy. Ask a casino worker.
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Just like Pagcor, the Social Security System (SSS) is a government and controlled corporation (GOCC). Both are suppose to make money for Malacanang to be happy. That on the annual event of presentation of earnings at the palace with the president and all functionaries in attendance, the two agencies can thump their breast for they belong to the so-called 'Billionaires Club'. That makes Pnoy happy.
In the case of Pagcor, benefits and promotions are denied the rank and file, while SSS refuse to increase the pensions despite the call. Despite what the House of Representatives and the Senate approval. The 'daang matuwid' is bumpy and dark for Pagcor casino workers and SSS pensioners.