The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has reiterated its plan to separate its dual roles as both operator and regulator of the country’s gaming industry.
“PAGCOR’s dual role has served its purpose in the past but as the industry matured, it became clear that—in layman’s terms—a referee cannot also be a player on the same field,” PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said in a statement.
Tengco explained that the agency must first secure approval from the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GCG), which is currently reviewing the required documents.
He added that the move also involves careful legal considerations since PAGCOR operates under Presidential Decree 1869 and Republic Act 9487.
Tengco assured, however, that Casino Filipino employees will be protected once PAGCOR’s gaming operations are privatized, either through redeployment, absorption by new operators, or competitive retirement benefits.