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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 1) – The government’s COVID-19 working group has allowed Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) to resume partial operations amid the country’s community-imposed quarantine.
This was confirmed by the president of the Philippine Games and Amusement Corporation (PAGCOR), Andrea Domingo, to CNN Philippines on Friday that only 30 percent of the total workforce will be able to report to work.
Domingo said he attended a virtual meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Working Group on Thursday. At the same meeting, the IATF approved its recommendation to reopen online gambling services, insisting that they are part of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, not the gaming sector.
PAGCOR has suspended POGO operations since March 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic. When President Rodrigo Duterte extended community quarantine across the country until May 15, he also eased restrictions on several nonessential businesses. The government has allowed BPOs to resume operations starting Friday.
Domingo said online gambling services serving markets outside the Philippines can resume operations once the documents are finalized and disinfection of their offices is complete.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman, Harry Roque, previously said that if the government allows the reopening of the POGOs, it can only be attributed to the country’s need for more funds.
However, the gaming sector has faced several problems in recent months.
The Internal Revenue Office previously revealed that more than $ 27 billion in tax obligations remain uncollected from the POGO sector.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council also said that POGOs generate only $ 7 billion in revenue in net inflows, a value the Senate Committee Blue Ribbon said only translates to a “negligible” 0.04 percent of the national economy. .
Blue Ribbon also opened investigations into POGO-related crimes in the Philippines, including the controversial money laundering scheme.
Several lawmakers have rejected plans to reopen POGOs. Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday introduced a resolution to block the reopening of the POGOs, adding that these players should only be prosecuted for paying back taxes of around ₱ 50 billion to boost the government’s COVID-19 response.
Related: Hontiveros wants to end the POGOs, demands unpaid taxes to pay for the COVID-19 bill
Senate Labor Committee Chairman Joel Villanueva said there is no reasonable explanation to allow the POGOs to get back to business.
“I don’t see the logic to allow POGO to work. Even before the pandemic, we said that this industry has no net positive benefit for Philippine society. With the pandemic, they could contribute to further spreading the disease.” he said in a statement.
PAGCOR said that the only POGOs authorized to operate are those that have registered and paid all taxes owed to the Internal Revenue Office. They must also present valid work visas for all their workers.
Domingo added that about 31,500 Filipinos are employees of POGO companies.
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