The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) got a new President and Chief Operating Officer, Wilma Eisma. Not only is she the new president, but Eisma is the first female president of the corporation in history, so her appointment is very significant for all women in the Philippines.

Eisma’s biography:

Alejandro Tengco, PAGCOR’s Chairman, said: “We are happy to welcome Atty. Wilma Eisma as PAGCOR’s new President and COO. We know she will be a great asset, and her vast experience in both the government and private sectors will surely be put to good use here.”

After oath-taking, where Tengco was also present, Eisma joined the meeting of the company’s Board for the first time in the new role.

She graduated in law from Ateneo de Manila University. Before joining PAGCOR, she worked at the Development Bank of the Philippines, where she was a member of the Board of Directors.

On top of that, she used to work as Administrator and Chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), where she was also the first woman in that function.

Furthermore, Eisma worked in the private sector as well. She was a part of leadership at PMFTC Inc., Philip Morris International’s affiliate located in the Philippines. On top of that, she worked at the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Trade and Industry, as well as in the House of Representatives Office of the Majority Leader.

Changes in PAGCOR:

As Inside Asian Gaming reports, Before Eisma came to the position of President and COO, Atty. Juanito Sanosa Jr. held that position. He resigned last January and had that role for less than 18 months before stepping down.

Wilma Eisma’s appointment came just after Chairman Tengco announced that the Philippines had become one of the leading markets in the Asian Pacific region. At the moment, the country holds a strong second place, just after Macau, which is still an industry leader in this part of the world. 

Pagcor has a lot of plans for the future, and among the most important ones is its privatization, which will take place during the fourth quarter of 2025. In the meantime, the regulator lowered taxes for gaming operators, and from March 2024, the taxes have been set to 35%, which was warmly welcomed by the operators currently present in the country. The company also continues its battle against illegal and offshore casino operators that are a real threat to casino operations in the Philippines.