Business groups back total ban on POGOs

MANILA, Philippines — Business groups yesterday expressed support for a total ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO), which are being linked to illegal activities in the country.

“We, the undersigned business groups, fully support the recommendation of DOF (Department of Finance) Secretary Ralph Recto and NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan for a total ban on POGOs,” the groups said in a statement yesterday.

The groups include the Makati Business Club, Alyansa Agrikultura, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Foundation for Economic Freedom, Institute of Corporate Directors, Justice Reform Initiative, Management Association of the Philippines and the UP (University of the Philippines) School of Economics Alumni Association.

Citing NEDA data, the groups said POGO investments’ contribution to the Philippine economy is minimal at 0.2 percent of gross domestic product last year.

The groups said there also social costs, with recent hearings illustrating that POGOs have been linked to involvement in crimes such as human trafficking, kidnapping and money laundering, among others.

Citing data from the Philippine National Police, the groups said 55 percent of the 31 cases of kidnappings in 2022 were POGO-related.

Earlier, Balisacan said the government, in his view, should be focusing on generating high quality jobs and not gambling jobs. Recto said a recommendation to totally ban POGOs has been sent to President Marcos.

The business groups added that government should help re-skill Filipino workers who may lose their jobs due to the ban and enable industries affected by POGOs to find alternative uses for their assets.

It will be best if Marcos will declare his policy toward POGOs in the country so as to make a definitive line between law-abiding POGOs and illegal ones, a key official of the House of Representatives said yesterday.

Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, who chairs the House ways and means committee, suggested that the Chief Executive can do so by simply stating that the country’s law must be followed, when he delivers his third State of the Nation Address before joint Congress on Monday.