State-run Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. on Friday said it donated P2 billion to the government to join the fight against the dreaded coronavirus disease or COVID-19.
PAGCOR said in a statement it turned over the amount to the Office of the President on March 11, 2020 to help fund the government’s efforts in its fight against the virus that originated in Wuhan, China and claimed the lives of more than 4,000 lives globally.
“The P2 billion was remitted to the Socio-Civic Projects Fund under the Office of the President in response to Proclamation No. 922, declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines brought about by the COVID-19 virus,” PAGCOR chairman and chief executive Andrea Domingo said.
She further said the government had been addressing the need for additional funds to support the Department of Health in combating the pandemic. Among these are the procurement of personal protective equipment, operating expenses of the Bureau of Quarantine and support for the tests being conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.