By Brian Jules Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision to ban the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) received widespread support among government officials, with Finance Sec. Ralph Recto committed to ensure job security of those who will be displaced by the order.
In a statement, Recto said POGOs’ negative impacts outweigh its contribution to the economy, as banning them “won’t significantly affect the economy” compared to letting them continue their operations.
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), the President ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to “wind down and cease” the operation of POGOs by the end of the year.
Marcos also directed the Department of Labor and Employment and the government’s economic managers to help the workers who will be affected by the ban get new jobs.
Citing the Department of Finance (DOF) report, Recto said the net cost of POGOs reached roughly P99.52 billion annually, while its total economic benefits only amounted to about P166.49 billion per year.
“I fully support his directive to ban POGOS. As I have recommended to the President, POGOs come with significant reputational risks and we have seen the negative impacts and destruction they have caused to our country because of crimes. Banning them won’t significantly affect the economy because the costs of keeping them far outweigh the benefits,” the Finance chief stated.
“We have until the end of the year to ensure that all displaced Filipino workers will have new jobs and I think that is more than enough time. The DOF will work closely with the Department of Labor and Employment to ensure that the workers’ incomes will not be severely disrupted and that we provide them with proper reskilling and upskilling training for new employment,” he added.
Meanwhile, Senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian—who have been leading the Senate inquiry on POGO-related crimes—welcomed the President’s pronouncement.
Hontiveros, also the chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Gender Equality, and Family Relations, said the POGO ban will contribute to the government’s efforts to ask for accountability regarding the operations of POGOs, as it only “brought innumerable and unspeakable social ills” in the country.
“Our Senate hearings will continue to demand accountability. We will also continue to ensure that we strengthen policies that would prevent industries like POGOs from ever emerging again,” the lawmaker said in a statement.
“And to all POGOs — legal o illegal — goodbye,” she added.
Gatchalian, likewise, assured appropriate support to Filipino workers who will be affected by the ban following an “orderly and peaceful” end to POGOs in the country.
“Sisiguraduhin natin na magiging maayos ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan na maaapektuhan ng POGO ban,” he said in a statement. – av