COA flags PAGCOR for poor planning after ₱412.31 million worth of vehicles, computers, tablets, and televisions remained undistributed in storage despite being purchased for public donations.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has come under scrutiny over its handling of government resources after auditors found that ₱412.31 million worth of vehicles, computers, and other donated equipment remained in storage without being distributed as of the end of 2025.
Based on the Commission on Audit’s (COA) report, PAGCOR acquired equipment amounting to ₱689.77 million for distribution to government agencies and other qualified recipients. However, almost 60 percent of the purchased items had not yet been delivered, prompting concerns about the agency’s planning, accountability, and management of public funds.
The undistributed supplies included 154 patient transport vehicles with an estimated value of ₱312 million. These vehicles were intended to strengthen healthcare services and provide communities with better access to medical transportation.
COA also reported that the remaining inventory consisted of 1,163 desktop computers worth ₱55.71 million, 2,735 tablets valued at ₱23.99 million, and 1,963 LED television sets costing ₱20.61 million, all of which were still awaiting distribution.
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Although the equipment was delivered to PAGCOR between February 2024 and July 2025, a significant portion remained undistributed despite being purchased for public assistance.
The auditors cautioned that keeping these items in storage for prolonged periods could expose them to physical damage, deterioration, and technological obsolescence. The audit further revealed that seven tablets had already been found defective, highlighting the possible consequences of delayed distribution.
COA identified shortcomings in PAGCOR’s donation system as one of the factors behind the delays. In particular, the agency had no established written policies covering the selection of beneficiaries, the allocation of donated equipment, and the setting of reasonable distribution deadlines.
The lack of standardized procedures also made it challenging to determine which institutions qualified to receive assistance and when the equipment should be released. Furthermore, the situation raised questions about responsibility and accountability for the prolonged delays.
In response, PAGCOR officials explained that their donation planning took into consideration requests from prospective recipients, estimated needs, government priorities, and the availability of funds.
Nevertheless, several administrative and logistical issues affected the distribution process. Some local government units reportedly took longer to secure the necessary resolutions approving their acceptance of the donations. Other beneficiaries encountered scheduling problems and difficulties coordinating the delivery of the equipment.
Despite these explanations, COA stressed that effective planning, clear policies, and established distribution timetables are necessary to prevent government-purchased supplies from remaining idle in storage.
To address the findings, auditors urged PAGCOR to develop clear standards for identifying eligible recipients, establish specific schedules for distributing donations, and accelerate the delivery of all remaining equipment.
PAGCOR management accepted the recommendations and expressed its agreement with the need to address the issues identified during the audit.
The findings underscore the importance of transparency and efficiency in managing government expenditures, especially when public money is allocated for programs intended to benefit communities. Purchasing equipment for donation does not automatically fulfill the purpose of public assistance; these resources must also be delivered to the people and institutions that need them.
For communities expecting medical transport vehicles, computers, and other forms of government support, delays in distribution can mean missed opportunities to improve essential services. Equipment purchased using public funds should serve its intended purpose rather than remain unused in storage.
Ultimately, the COA findings emphasize that government agencies have a responsibility not only to spend public funds wisely but also to ensure that purchased resources are distributed efficiently and produce tangible benefits for the Filipino people.