PAGCOR backs 2,000 scholars with nearly $1M in fund support
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has committed PHP60 million ($976,999) to fund scholarships for 2,000 students from low-income families in Bulacan, a province in Central Luzon, reinforcing its commitment to channel gaming revenues into programmes that directly benefit Filipinos.
The state gaming regulator released the first PHP10 million ($162,833) tranche to the Bulacan provincial government on Monday to launch the Ayudang Hatid ay Tagumpay (AHT) Scholarship Program, which aims to expand access to higher education and technical-vocational training.
Under the programme, PHP40 million ($651,333) will fund scholarships for 1,000 incoming college freshmen enrolled in four-year degree programmes, while the remaining PHP20 million ($325,666) will support 1,000 students pursuing technical-vocational education.
The turnover ceremony was held at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in Malolos City, where PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro Tengco formally presented the initial grant to Governor Daniel Fernando and Vice Governor Alexis Castro.
“By turning over the first tranche of the fund today, we are not only providing assistance to the education sector,” Tengco said in Filipino. “We are also investing in the skills, dreams and potential of our young people, who will become our partners in building a more prosperous Bulacan and a stronger Philippines.”
PAGCOR said the scholarship programme is expected to help deserving students gain access to higher education and skills training while easing the financial burden on low-income families.
Tengco: Gaming revenue should benefit Filipinos
Tengco said the initiative reflects PAGCOR’s broader mandate of ensuring that revenues generated from regulated gaming are returned to the public through programmes that improve lives.
“First, PAGCOR was established to curb illegal gambling,” Tengco said in Filipino. “Second, and more importantly, it exists to return PAGCOR’s earnings to the people through programmes that help Filipinos and support nation-building.”
The scholarship initiative forms part of PAGCOR’s wider social investment programme, which channels proceeds from regulated gaming into education, healthcare, infrastructure, sports development and other public services.
Nation-building remains a PAGCOR priority
The scholarship programme comes months after PAGCOR reported that its total contributions to nation-building reached PHP66.95 billion ($1.09 billion) in 2025, despite a decline in overall revenues.
According to PAGCOR‘s 2025 financial results, the regulator generated PHP106.03 billion ($1.7 billion) in total revenues, down 5.09 per cent from PHP111.72 billion ($1.8 billion) in 2024, largely due to weaker earnings from land-based casinos. However, growth in electronic and online gaming helped cushion the decline, while net income increased 4.18 per cent to PHP17.47 billion ($284.5 million).
The National Treasury remained the largest beneficiary, receiving PHP45.19 billion ($736 million) as the government’s statutory share. PAGCOR also remitted PHP4.76 billion ($77.5 million) in franchise taxes and PHP907 million ($14.8 million) in corporate income taxes, while allocating PHP12.77 billion ($208 million) to socio-civic programmes, including initiatives under the Office of the President.
Other beneficiaries included the Philippine Sports Commission, which received PHP2.26 billion ($36.8 million); local government units hosting Casino Filipino branches; the Department of Justice’s Board of Claims; and the Renewable Energy Trust Fund.
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