Marcos Recognises PAGCOR for $92M Dividend Payment

PAGCOR ranks among the top state companies

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, or PAGCOR, received an award during the 2026 GOCC Day celebration. The event took place at Malacañang Palace. It honoured the country's best-performing state-owned companies. President Marcos gave the award to PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro Tengco.

The award recognised PAGCOR's PHP5.67 billion, or $92.1 million, dividend payment made in 2025. PAGCOR ranked fifth among 50 government-owned and controlled companies.

The payment equalled half of PAGCOR's yearly income — meeting the country's Dividends Law. The law says state-owned companies must pay at least 50 percent of their yearly net income to the government.

Marcos praises strong financial results

Marcos said state-owned companies play an important role in the country. He said their dividend payments help the government without raising taxes. He also said careful spending gives more support to Filipino families.

This year, total dividend payments reached about PHP139.8 billion. Marcos said that money could help pay for many public projects. These include:

• Nearly 40,000 classrooms

• More than 165,000 homes

• Around 9,320 kilometres of farm-to-market roads

He also asked state-owned companies to improve their work — while protecting public money.

Tengco promises more support

Tengco welcomed the recognition from the President. He said PAGCOR will keep helping the government. He also said the regulator stayed strong despite global economic challenges.

PAGCOR plans to manage its money with care — and keep growing its payments. Nevertheless, future results may depend on the wider economy.

Gaming revenue supports public programmes

The award came only days after another PAGCOR announcement. The regulator launched a PHP60 million scholarship programme for 2,000 students from low-income families in Bulacan. It has already released the first PHP10 million to begin the programme.

Beyond education, gaming revenue also supports other public services. PAGCOR said it contributed PHP66.95 billion to nation-building programmes during 2025. That happened even though total revenue fell by 5.09 percent. The latest award shows gaming income can help pay for schools, homes, roads, and other public projects — without adding new taxes.