Manila: The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has allocated PHP32.85 million in assistance to families affected by Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan, which left widespread devastation in various parts of the country. PAGCOR chairman and chief executive officer Alejandro Tengco said the agency utilized the amount to procure 31,500 relief packs containing food and non-food essentials for distribution to hard-hit provinces.

According to Philippines News Agency, following the onslaught of Typhoon Tino in early November, 15,000 relief packs worth PHP14.78 million were turned over to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Regions 6 (Western Visayas) and 7 (Central Visayas) to assist affected communities. Another batch of 16,500 relief packs worth PHP18.07 million is currently being dispatched to communities impacted by Super Typhoon Uwan in Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Aurora, Batangas, Bulacan, and Negros Occidental. The Senate of the Philippines also received relief packs from the latter batch for its outreach initiative.

Each relief pack contains rice, bottled water, canned goods, and coffee, along with non-food necessities such as blankets, mosquito nets, and toiletries. Tengco stated that PAGCOR is committed to extending support to fellow Filipinos in times of calamities and emphasized that helping communities rebuild their lives is part of their nation-building mission.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier declared a state of national calamity for one year to expedite rescue, relief, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts, as the typhoons affected 2.5 million families nationwide. In addition to the relief drive, PAGCOR also donated 2,000 computer tablets worth PHP17.54 million to cities in the Visayas that host its Casino Filipino branches to support learners in the wake of recent disasters. Of the total, 1,000 tablets will go to the Cebu City government, while Iloilo and Bacolod will each receive 500 units for distribution to public schools.

Tengco expressed hope that the donation would help learners continue their studies despite the challenges brought by the recent calamities, emphasizing that education is key to building a better future and that PAGCOR will always be a partner in making that possible.