State-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) have signed a pact to bolster data privacy protection and regulatory compliance across the country’s gaming sector.
The collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Oct. 20, aims to address data privacy challenges, enhance stakeholder cooperation and promote a secure and trusted gaming environment.
The partnership will also pave the way for the full development of a database of government officials and employees who are prohibited from gambling in casinos and other gaming establishments nationwide.
“This MOU with the NPC is a vital step in aligning PAGCOR’s policies and processes with the evolving data privacy landscape,” said PAGCOR chairman and chief executive Alejandro Tengco.
He said the agreement “reinforces our duty to protect personal information while ensuring that our operations remain transparent, compliant and trustworthy.”
Privacy Commissioner and NPC chairman John Henry Naga lauded PAGCOR’s proactive stance, noting that cooperation between regulatory agencies is crucial in safeguarding personal data in industries handling large volumes of sensitive information.
“The formalization of this collaboration between NPC and PAGCOR underscores the security of our citizens’ personal data, which is not just a regulatory requirement but a hallmark of excellence in the gaming industry,” Naga said.
Under the agreement, the two agencies will implement joint programs on privacy awareness, capacity building and policy development to strengthen privacy governance within the gaming sector.
The idea for a formal partnership was first raised during an NPC-led Data Privacy Training Workshop for government-owned and controlled corporations, where Maria Concepcion Gloria-Rubio, PAGCOR data privacy officer, proposed a framework to enhance compliance mechanisms.
