Mga legit na operators, pinalagan ang pagbabawal sa online gaming

by Info @Business News | July 9, 2025

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Nagkakaisa ang mga lisensyadong online gaming operator, ang Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, at mga responsableng mambabatas sa panawagang lumikha ng mas mahigpit na regulasyon at hindi ganap na pagbabawal upang masiguro ang kaligtasan ng mga Pilipinong manlalaro at mapanatili ang pag-usbong ng ekonomiya.

Habang pinagdedebatehan sa Kongreso ang mga panukalang ipagbawal o limitahan ang online gaming, nagbababala ang mga lehitimong operator na ang ganap na pagbabawal ay hindi magiging epektibo; bagkus, itutulak lamang nito ang milyon-milyong Pilipino sa itim na merkado at ilegal na operator.

Hindi nabubura ng pagbabawal ang online gaming. Ang binubura nito ay ang mga pananggalang na dapat sana’y nagsisilbing proteksyon. Malinaw ang katotohanan: magpapatuloy ang mga manlalaro. Pipili lamang sila kung maglalaro sila sa lisensyado at ligtas na plataporma o sa itim na merkado – sa mga ilegal na site na walang pananagutan.

May umiiral nang mga pananggalang para sa kaligtasan

Pinapatupad na ng lisensyadong sektor ng online gaming ang ilan sa pinakamahigpit na proteksyon sa Asya:

• Mahigpit na Know-Your-Customer at multi-factor authentication

• Pagsusuri sa National Database of Restricted Persons ng PAGCOR

• Pagtiyak na edad 21 pataas ang lahat ng manlalaro

• Self-exclusion tools at pagmomonitor ng at-risk na kilos

• Pagsunod sa patas at tapat na patalastas

• Pag-ambag sa kita ng bansa, trabaho, at inobasyon sa teknolohiya

Bawat pisong ginugol sa lisensyadong plataporma ay sumusuporta sa mga paaralan, ospital, at kalsada – at tumutulong protektahan ang mga pamilya sa pamamagitan ng regulasyon. Samantala, bawat pisong napupunta sa ilegal na site ay perang ninanakaw mula sa komunidad at dumidiretso sa mga operator na walang pakialam sa batas.

Mga aral mula sa mundo, lokal na realidad

Ipinupunto ng industriya na sa 195 bansa sa buong mundo, 177 ang pumili ng regulasyon para sa online gaming. Ang natitirang 18 – kabilang ang North Korea, Iran, at Somalia – ay may ganap na pagbabawal, ngunit hindi nagtagumpay sa pagpigil ng underground gaming.

Noong 2006, ipinatupad ang pagbabawal sa U.S. ngunit lumipat lamang ang mga manlalaro sa offshore sites. Noong 2013, ginawa itong legal upang muling makontrol ang industriya – nagresulta ito sa US$71.9 bilyon na kita at US$15 bilyon na buwis. Ganito rin ang nakita sa Sweden, Brazil, Colombia, at Argentina: ang pagbabawal ay nagtutulak ng mas malaking krimen; ang regulasyon ang susi sa kontrol at pag-unlad.

Ang kaso ng Pilipinas

Mula nang palawakin at isailalim sa regulasyon ang online gaming noong 2022, tumaas mula P12.3 bilyon tungong P54 bilyon ang kinolektang license fees ng PAGCOR noong 2024. Halos kalahati ng P112 bilyong kabuoang kita ng PAGCOR ay mula sa online gaming. Mahigit 50,000 Pilipino ang nagtatrabaho sa sektor – karamihan sa mga larangan ng teknolohiya, cybersecurity, creative design, at AI.

Babala ng mga operator: ang padalus-dalos na pagbabawal o pagtanggal ng lehitimong payment channels ay sisira sa mga tagumpay na ito, magbubura ng libo-libong trabaho, at magbibigay-daan sa ilegal na operasyon. Sa mga espasyong ito, wala nang pananggalang sa manlalaro – walang age verification, data protection, suporta sa problematikong pagsusugal, at walang kontribusyon sa ekonomiya.

Panawagan sa balanse at matalinong regulasyon

Sa halip na itulak ang mga manlalaro sa pagtatago, nanawagan ang industriya sa mga mambabatas na:

• Palakasin ang age at identity verification

• Linawin ang limitasyon para sa mga at-risk na manlalaro

• Patatagin ang anti-money laundering safeguards

• Pabilisin ang pagsasara ng mga ilegal na site

• Palawakin ang edukasyon sa karapatan at responsableng paglalaro

Maging malinaw tayo: hindi kaaway ang online gaming na may regulasyon. Ang tunay na banta ay ang mga ilegal na operator na inuuna ang kita kaysa kapakanan ng Pilipino. Hindi takot ang mga legal na operator sa mahigpit na patakaran – tinatanggap pa nga nila ito. Ang kinatatakutan nila ay ang pagsuko ng digital na kinabukasan sa itim na merkado.

Habang ang mga kalapit na bansa gaya ng Singapore, Malaysia, at Vietnam ay nagmo-modernisa ng regulasyon para sa proteksyon at investment, nanganganib ang Pilipinas na maiwan kung paiiralin ang mga batas na nakabatay sa takot. Bubuwagin ng ganap na pagbabawal ang industriyang kayang lumikha ng trabaho, patatagin ang teknolohiya, at maghatid ng bilyong piso sa kita.

Panawagan sa mga regulator: huwag magbukas ng pinto sa paglabag ng batas. Panatilihing legal. Panatilihing ligtas. Panatilihing Pilipino.

Muling pinagtitibay ng mga lisensyadong online gaming operator ang kanilang pangako na makipagtulungan sa pamahalaan, mga regulator, at komunidad upang matiyak na ang online gaming ay ligtas, malinaw, at tunay na may benepisyo para sa sambayanang Pilipino.

LAGDA NG MGA LISENSYADONG ONLINE GAMING OPERATOR SA PILIPINAS:

1. World Platinum Technologies Inc.

2. AB Leisure Exponent, Inc.

3. Total Gamezone Xtreme, Inc.

4. Gamemaster Integrated, Inc.

5. Lucky Taya Gaming Corp.

6. Stotsenberg Leisure Park & Hotel Corporation

7. Igo Digital High Technology Inc.

8. Megabet Corp.

9. Gavin Ventures Inc.

10. Gotech Entertainment Inc.

11. Meta Interactive Software Solutions, Inc.

12. Nextstage Entertainment Inc.

13. Webzoid System Solutions Corporation

14. Trojan Wells Entertainment Corp.

Pag-IBIG Fund Earns 13th Straight Unmodified Opinion from COA

by Info @Brand Zone | July 1, 2025

Pag-IBIG Fund has earned its 13th consecutive Unmodified Opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA), reaffirming its commitment to excellence in financial management, sound governance practices, and consistent compliance with accounting and auditing standards, officials announced on Tuesday, July 1.

The latest audit opinion followed COA’s comprehensive review of Pag-IBIG Fund’s financial statements and operations for the year 2024. The review confirmed that the agency’s transactions were properly conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and that its financial statements were fairly presented, in all material respects, in line with relevant government accounting and reporting standards.

“This is further proof that Pag-IBIG Fund has been, and continues to be, managed with professionalism, prudence, and integrity,” said Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, head of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and Chairperson of the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees. “It is a testament to how Pag-IBIG Fund upholds the highest standards in managing our members’ hard-earned savings and in fulfilling its mandate to serve the Filipino worker. This achievement also reflects Pag-IBIG Fund’s strong position, as it plays a key role in the administration’s flagship Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Housing Program. We remain committed to the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to build a more secure, resilient, and prosperous future for every Filipino family.”

COA had previously issued unqualified opinions on Pag-IBIG Fund from 2012 to 2017 and unmodified opinions from 2018 to 2024. With this latest result, Pag-IBIG Fund joins a short list of Philippine government agencies and GOCCs that have consistently received unqualified and unmodified opinions for over a decade, a noteworthy distinction that underscores its sustained fiscal discipline and commitment to transparency.

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta likewise emphasized the significance of this recognition, highlighting how it reflects the agency’s outstanding performance and service delivery in 2024.

“Pag-IBIG Fund exceeded the one-trillion-peso mark in total assets and posted a historic net income of ₱66.78 billion last year. We also achieved all-time highs in our housing loan releases, cash loan disbursements, and loan collections, enabling more Filipino workers to access affordable home financing and meet their short-term financial needs. Earning COA’s Unmodified Opinion for the 13th consecutive year affirms that we accomplished all these while upholding the highest standards of integrity, in line with President Marcos Jr.’s call for excellence and accountability in public service, said Acosta.” 

“This recognition reinforces our members’ trust, knowing that their savings are safe, protected, and responsibly managed. We will continue to serve them with Tapat na Serbisyo, Mula sa Puso, and remain focused on sustaining this track record of integrity in the years ahead, she added.”

The unmodified opinion from COA adds to the list of recognitions earned by Pag-IBIG Fund from governing bodies for its excellence in public service last year. In 2024, Pag-IBIG Fund was also named as one of the top-performing government firms for good governance by the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG). Pag-IBIG Fund also earned a satisfaction rating of 99.52% in its 2024 Client Satisfaction Measurement, in accordance with the standards set by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the GCG.

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BatStateU The NEU climbs in 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, breaks into 401-600 band globally

by Aaron Erwin Austria / Arnold Ramos @Brand Zone | June 20, 2025

BATANGAS CITY — Strengthening its commitment to advancing the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Batangas State University, The National Engineering University (BatStateU The NEU), has made a significant leap in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, rising from the 601–800 band to the 401–600 band out of 2,318 participating universities worldwide, as announced on June 18.

Among 113 Philippine (PH) higher education institutions making the list, BatStateU The NEU secured 2nd place nationally—further affirming its leadership in driving SDG-aligned initiatives and championing inclusive, sustainable development.

Despite intensified global competition—with 355 additional institutions participating this year—BatStateU not only ascended to a higher bracket but also recorded its highest overall performance score to date: 74.9. This marks a 10.47% increase from the previous year and an impressive 19.65% growth since its inaugural participation in 2023.

“BatStateU is honored to be recognized once again by Times Higher Education,” said Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo, University President. “This achievement reflects the steadfast efforts of our academic community—faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners—who bring our mission to life every single day. As we continue to elevate our global standing, we remain grounded in our purpose: to engineer meaningful change through inclusive, sustainable, and forward-thinking innovation. My deepest thanks to everyone who walks this journey with us as we strive to build a more resilient and sustainable world,” he added.

The THE Impact Rankings represents the first global initiative to assess how universities contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), evaluating performance across four key areas: research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching.

Among the 17 UN SDGs, BatStateU stood out in four key areas, earning placements within the Top 101–200 universities globally, with one SDG breaking into the Top 100. Leading the charge is SDG 5: Gender Equality, where the University ranked 68th out of 1,559 institutions, its highest SDG ranking to date. This achievement was driven by a substantial rise in the percentage of senior female academic leaders—from 34.6 to 72.5—as well as enhanced measures for student access and increased representation of first-generation female students. Equally noteworthy is the University’s performance in SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, where it earned high scores in water usage and care, boosting its overall score to 72.3, a significant leap from 63.3 in 2024. For SDG 14: Life Below Water, BatStateU maintained its strong global standing through consistent efforts in aquatic ecosystem preservation and improved marine-sensitive waste management. Lastly, under SDG 15: Life on Land, the University maintained its upward momentum, achieving a commendable score of 71.0 through expanded environmental education programs and advances in biodiversity research.

In addition, the University has also outperformed the global average scores in 9 out of 17 SDGs, including Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), which is a mandatory goal for the said ranking. 

Batangas State University, designated as the Philippines’ National Engineering University through Republic Act No. 11694, is widely recognized for its excellence in engineering education. A Level-IV state university, it has produced over 180 engineering board topnotchers, solidifying its reputation as the country’s largest engineering university. Notably, BatStateU is also a pioneer in quality assurance for engineering education. It is the first state university in the Philippines to have engineering programs accredited by the Philippine Technological Council through its Accreditation and Certification Board for Engineering and Technology (PTC-ACBET). Moreover, it remains the first—and to date, the only—state university in the country with engineering and computing programs accredited by the US-based Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), through both its Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) and Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC).

With a QS Stars Rating of three stars, BatStateU has also earned global recognition for its commitment to sustainability, ranking as the 304th Most Sustainable University in the 2024 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings. Furthermore, it was also recognized as the 128th most innovative university globally in the prestigious World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) 2024.

At the forefront of these efforts is the University’s Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), which serves as the central hub for advancing BatStateU’s sustainability agenda. Recognizing the urgent need for action in support of national and global sustainability goals, the CSD integrates sustainability across the University’s core functions—instruction, research, innovation, extension, and administrative services.

Through active collaboration with students, faculty, staff, and partner communities, the Center fosters a shared responsibility for building a sustainable future. As such, it is envisioned to evolve into a leading platform for transformative action and thought leadership in sustainable development, both locally and globally.

For the full rankings and methodology of THE Impact Rankings, detailed information can be accessed at the THE Website: