House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) unveiled its plans for displaced Filipino workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to a joint House of Representatives panel following the industry-wide ban set by President Marcos.

During a recent hearing of the Committees on Public Order and Safety and on Games and Amusements, DOLE Undersecretary Felipe Egargo Jr—through the presentation of Division Chief Jerome Lucas—says the agency is currently profiling the number of Filipino workers in POGOs.

According to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), there are about 40,000 Filipinos employed in these online gambling companies.

Lucas, however, said DOLE will still verify these numbers to ensure that all displaced workers will be assisted by the government.

He notes that there are direct and indirect workers in POGOs, the latter being employees working for foreign nationals and those not involved in the actual operations.

“Sa pamamagitan ng profiling natin, malalaman natin ‘yung iba’t ibang mga kailangan ng ating mga Filipino workers,” he said.

(Through our profiling, we will know the different needs of our Filipino workers.)

Lucas said DOLE, in coordination with the Social Security System (SSS), is now preparing the provision of unemployment insurance benefits for the displaced workers.

“Mabibigyan po sila ng one month na kanilang average na sweldo at ito ay ibibigay ‘pag nagkaroon ng closure ang mga establishment,” he noted. 

(They will be given one month of their average salary and this will be given when the establishments are closed.)

After this, the DOLE is set to coordinate with the country’s Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry to establish a job fair specifically for the dismissed employees.

If these workers, aged 35 years old and below, are willing to be minimum wage earners, then they can also potentially enter the government’s internship program.

The agency will also tap job matching, referral, and placement services; as well as career development support services.

Lucas told the House members that through these services DOLE will gauge the specific job opportunity a worker wants, and whether they would be willing to work outside their locality or not.

DOLE will also provide labor marketing information, reskilling and upskilling programs, and skills development opportunities through other agencies such as Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

“Ang goal ng ating profiling at pagbibigay ng employment services programs ay para maipasok sila sa wage employment or self-employment,” said Lucas.

(The goal of our profiling and provision of employment services programs is to get them into wage employment or self-employment.)

Santa Rosa City lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez, who chairs the Public Order and Safety committee, told DOLE and Pagcor to make certain that these plans are not done in an abrupt manner.

“Hanggang (Until) December, so still, the DOLE and Pagcor can work together in order to safeguard the work of these people na mawawalan ng trabaho (who will lose their jobs),” said Fernandez.

Based on President Marcos’ directive, Pagcor has until the end of the year to “wind down and cease the operation” of all POGOs in the country.