TACLOBAN CITY – Northern Samar Rep. Edwin Ongchuan has called on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to extend incentives and assistance beyond national athletes, stressing the importance of supporting grassroots sports programs during a congressional hearing on the agency’s proposed 2026 budget.
Ongchuan said local and regional athletes need recognition and tangible investment to develop their potential, pointing out that current Pagcor incentives, coursed through the Philippine Sports Commission, focus mainly on national and international competitors.
“With Pagcor reporting P111 billion in revenue in 2024 and expecting to surpass targets in 2025, a portion of these resources should be allocated to nurture athletic talent across the country,” Ongchuan said.
The lawmaker also urged Pagcor to include regional athletes in its corporate social responsibility programs, which currently cover sports, education, health, disaster response, and community development.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
