ORANI, BATAAN – The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) inaugurated on Wednesday, March 12, a two-story socio-civic facility here with a Php 50 million funding from the state gaming agency.
Since its completion in August 2024, the socio-civic center has been used as a learning facility for the students of Governor Efren B. Pascual Sr. Orani Integrated Central School (GEPS-OICS).
With over 1,200 enrollees, GEPS-OICS has long been struggling with classroom shortage, said School Principal Ariel Valencia.
“The PAGCOR Socio-Civic Center serves as a temporary solution to our classroom shortage problem,” he said. “Now, our Grade 11 and Grade 12 students are holding classes in spacious and comfortable learning spaces, positively impacting their performance.”
Grade 11 teacher Arianne Cruz added that by using the PAGCOR socio-civic facility as an alternative learning venue, makeshift classrooms are now a thing of the past.
“Dati, napipilitan kaming magklase sa court o sa mga silong dahil sa kakulangan ng classroom. Pero ngayon, maayos nang nakaka-pagklase ang mga bata dahil sa gusaling kaloob ng PAGCOR,” she said.
The building’s inauguration was led by PAGCOR Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility Group Ramon Stephen Villaflor and Orani Mayor Efren Pascual Jr.
Villaflor emphasized the project’s role in providing essential services to Orani locals.
“This socio-civic center is being maximized as a classroom, providing the youths of Orani with a decent learning environment,” he said. “We made this possible because of PAGCOR and the municipality of Orani’s strong partnership.”
Mayor Pascual, meanwhile, thanked PAGCOR for the new facility, which will also serve as an evacuation center and venue for other community events.
“Higit pa sa isang evacuation building ang aming natanggap mula sa PAGCOR dahil ang gusaling ito ay maaaring pagdausan din ng iba’t ibang aktibidad na makapagsusulong ng kaunlaran ng Orani,” he said. “At ngayon nga ay kasalukuyan na namin itong napapakinabangan bilang karagdagang classroom para sa aming mga mag-aaral.”
To date, PAGCOR has completed 47 socio-civic centers nationwide, with 24 more currently under construction.
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