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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Three-month phaseout of POGOs 'too abrupt'—JV Ejercito

Three-month phaseout of POGOs 'too abrupt'—JV Ejercito

Published Sep 21, 2023 08:58 am

 

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Thursday, September 21 expressed hope the Senate would be amenable to a longer phaseout period for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

 

Ejercito, one of the senators who signed the committee report on the Senate measure that seeks to permanently ban POGOs in the country, said ceasing the operation of POGOs within a three-month period would be difficult for the workers bound to be affected by this decision. 

 

“Maybe we can agree to give them a year, or two to three years phaseout period. Three-months is too abrupt. It’s too abrupt,” Ejercito said in a press briefing at the Senate.

 

“Those who committed crimes or are illegally operating should be immediately blacklisted. But those who are legally operating should be given at least some time to find an alternative employment option for their workers,” he said. 

 

According to Ejercito, he signed the committee report so that the measure, which was prepared by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, can be brought to the plenary floor for debates. 

 

“But I made it clear before that I am not in favor of an abrupt banning. I am in favor of a phaseout period,” he added.

 

“My primary concern is that abruptly pulling out POGOs in our country may harm our reputation in the international community. The administration was trying hard to invite investors, and we made a policy of making POGOs legal in the country, and yet we are going to ban them immediately. We have to find alternative employment for them first,” he said.

 

Under the committee report, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) would be mandated to look for alternative employment for Filipino nationals employed by POGOs that would be displaced as a result of the permanent ban. 

 

The report also recommends assisting would-be displaced Filipino POGO workers and employment opportunities in other industries such as Information Technology Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) and manufacturing.

 

“So as early as now, let’s give them sufficient time to prepare for the phase out period. But let’s not do an abrupt pullout,” Ejercito said. 

 

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