Philippines gaming regulator PAGCOR has announced a series of key changes to its Gaming License and Development Department (GLDD), just months after the government called a halt to the issuance of new casino licenses.
Most notable is the appointment of Attorney Angeline P Papica-Entienza as Assistant Vice-President of PAGCOR and head of the GLDD, in place of Ramon Villaflor. Joining Papica-Entienza is Rowena Alcaide as Senior Manager of the Casino Licensing and Regulatory Unit in place of Attorney Dave Sevilla, Angelie Agustin as Senior Manager of the Responsible Gaming and Logistics Unit in place of Luis Dela Concepcion and Attorney Jeremy Luglug as Acting Senior Manager of the Remote Gaming Unit, replacing Maria Flor.
The new appointments come at a time of some uncertainty for PAGCOR, which announced in January a moratorium on the issue of new casino licenses. It also looks set to renege on a provisional license issued to Macau casino giant Galaxy Entertainment Group to build a US$500 million integrated resort in Boracay after President Duterte declared no casinos would be built on the holiday island.
Similarly, it was reported last month that Korean casino operator Landing International Development Corp has had a lease agreement to develop and operate an integrated resort in Manila’s Entertainment City precinct put on hold due to the lack of a gaming license from PAGCOR and a dispute over the leasing of land.