In The Spirit of Solidarity and Nation-Building

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the country's gaming regulatory body, and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc. (BCFI), the corporate foundation of Bloomberry Resorts Corporation - the operating entity of Solaire Resort Entertainment City - have become formidable allies in aiding the development of local communities, making basic services more accessible, and improving the quality of life of every Filipino.

Since BCFI's inception, its partnership with PAGCOR has remained anchored on their mutual commitment towards nation-building and elevating the Philippines, which has birthed to numerous notable initiatives across the country. These efforts span from infrastructure development, relief operations, culture-centered plans, and healthcare assistance.

In the first months of 2020, PAGCOR and BCFI unveiled the plans to fund the construction of a PHP521 million hospital and diagnostic center with a 100-bed capacity located in San Fernando, Pampanga. The medical infrastructure will also include dialysis and cancer centers and are dedicated to catering to the healthcare needs of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). Similarly, the following year was when BCFI announced that its partnership with PAGCOR will fund the PHP60 million building of the first hospital in San Andres, Quezon which is inhabited by an approximate population of 36,000. The said hospital is a response to the need of the local government for a healthcare facility that is accessible, affordable, and adequate for the municipality's constituency which covers seven barangays and is also open to San Andres' nearby contiguous towns. The San Andres hospital is a 25-bed capacity which features isolation rooms, semi-private rooms, six-bed wards, as well a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In addition, the facility's blueprint also includes four emergency rooms, two operating vis-à-vis delivery rooms, as well as provisional spaces to accommodate consultations and out-patient services.

The last two years have also been a great challenge with COVID-19 putting much strain to the country's healthcare system. In the advent and occurrence of the global health crisis, PAGCOR and BCFI mobilized its resources to draft and implement a COVID response and recovery plan which includes supporting medical frontliners through equipment and supplies donations, as wells as testing and isolation protocols and vaccination requirements for the public. This meticulous and well-coordinated plan ultimately became the standard to emulate by businesses across all industries in the Philippines. Presently, BCFI and PAGCOR continue to be active responders to the persisting COVID-19 recovery needs of several cities and municipalities across the country. More recently, a PHP16 million donation of COVID-19 test kits were made to the local government of Dasmarinas, Cavite to ensure the city's continuous management of and early response to COVID cases.

The closing of 2021 saw the lashing of Typhoon Odette with much of the devastation centered in Visayas and Mindanao. Despite the on-going efforts in relation to COVID-19, BCFI and PAGCOR remained steadfast and acted swiftly by allocating PHP50 million for the purchase of relief goods and coordinated and organized its delivery with the assistance of on-ground support. With the help of BCFI and its volunteer employees, more than 12,300 family packs and potable water were immediately distributed to displaced residents of Siargao island between January 7 and 15, 2022 alone. The relief mission continued and provided relief assistance to other hard-hit areas in Palawan, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, and Misamis Oriental.

Apart from healthcare and relief responses, BCFI and PAGCOR also put emphasis on the importance of the preservation and celebration of the Filipino culture and heritage in nation-building. In the past, donations to support museum upgrades and rehabilitations were made to provide a better environment to house national artifacts as well as a conducive learning environment for visitors. In line with this, BCFI and PAGCOR earmarked a PHP19 million donation for the Music and Lights Show at the Fountain of Wright Park set in the historic Baguio City hallmark, the Burnham Park. To this day, the Burnham Park remains to be one of Baguio's landmark destinations and one of the most popular tourist attractions that's a must-visit for local and international visitors.

BCFI and PAGCOR's synchronized actions towards a shared vision for the Philippines has impacted the lives of many Filipinos. This seamless exhibition of solidarity between the private and public sectors goes to show that despite coming from different ends of the spectrum, great things and true progress can be achieved.

For reference and inquiries, please contact:

Krizia Cortez
Public Relations and Communications Manager
Solaire Resort Entertainment City
Telephone Number: + 63 2 8883 8784
Mobile Number: +63 998 586 1327
E-mail: [email protected]