Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 27) — Senator JV Ejercito on Friday said he favors a gradual phaseout of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) to soften its impact on employment and on industries depending on it.
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Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, Ejercito said he believes banning POGOs should be in “a gradual phaseout or a transition period of about 2-3 years.”
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Some lawmakers called for the total banning of POGOs due to reports of the industry being linked to kidnapping and human trafficking. Others, meanwhile, oppose this call as this may only drive operators underground.
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Ejercito said while he is not really for POGOs, he is concerned about the impact of an abrupt shutdown of the industry. He noted this will affect around 40,000 Filipino and Chinese Filipino POGO workers, as well as the office space take up as these operators occupy around 1 million square meters of space.
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This still does not include the move’s impact on housing and other sectors that benefit from POGOs, the senator added.
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“Those illegal POGOs [that] are connected to these crimes and causing disturbance, they have to be out as soon as possible, immediately,” Ejercito said.
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As for the rest of the industry, the process should be done slowly “until we can find alternative livelihood and employment for our Filipino workers who are working in the POGO industry and also to soften the impact on real estate and other businesses related to POGO,” he explained.
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Senators have conducted four hearings to look into the issues surrounding the POGO industry.
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In an interview on Jan. 24, Sen. Win Gatchalian, who is chairperson of the ways and means committee, said the report on the panel’s recommendations will be out this week.
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