Quezon city: The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) joined the nationwide rollout of Handog ng Pangulo 2026 on Monday, supporting the government's effort to bring public services and assistance closer to communities in 94 cities and municipalities.
According to Philippines News Agency, PAGCOR's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro Tengco represented President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the launch of the caravan at the Quezon City MICE Center. Tengco emphasized the significance of the event, stating, "Isinasagawa natin ang nationwide na Handog ng Pangulo kung saan ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan, pambansa at lokal, ay maghahatid mismo sa inyo ng kanilang mga serbisyo," highlighting the government's initiative to deliver public services directly to the people.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Joeben Tai also attended the launch. The simultaneous caravan, which aims to make government services more accessible by bringing assistance and frontline services directly to communities, was held in 94 cities and municipalities nationwide in connection with President Marcos' 69th birthday on September 13.
Tengco urged Filipinos to take advantage of the services offered through the caravan. "Sapagkat para sa Pangulo, ang pinakamahalagang handog sa araw na ito ay ang pagkakataong makapaglingkod sa sambayanang Pilipino," he said. The caravan in Quezon City also included the ceremonial awarding of housing titles from the NHA, distribution of assistance under the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Sustainable Livelihood Program, toolkits from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and education assistance from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
In Cavite, more than 5,000 residents received government assistance and frontline services during the Handog ng Pangulo caravan led by Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla in Trece Martires City. Approximately PHP12.7 million in government assistance was distributed to beneficiaries, which included some PHP8.1 million for displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through the Department of Migrant Workers' Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan Fund, and PHP1.86 million in student aid for Cavite State University grantees through CHED.
Other government agencies also joined the event and provided services, including the regional offices of the Bureau of Immigration, Department of Agrarian Reform, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Land Registration Authority - Registry of Deeds, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. During the event, Remulla announced that the Philippine General Hospital in Carmona is expected to become operational this year, offering accessible, quality medical services for Cavite±os. He added that the construction of the Sangley International Airport is expected to move forward next year and generate more than 30,000 jobs for Filipinos.
Handog ng Pangulo was first launched by the Office of the President in 2024, bringing national government agencies and local governments together in one venue for easier access to government programs, assistance, and frontline services.
