MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment is now “preparing” for the possible phaseout of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs as controversies pressed the latter’s operation in the country.
“I can’t say that we are ready yet. But we are preparing for it,” Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said in a Palace briefing.
Laguesma said the department was now anticipating the “possible negative effects” should the POGO shutdown in the Philippines take effect, however, it did not provide exact estimates as to how many workers could lose their jobs after the phaseout.
The DOLE is already “profiling” to determine the number of employees who would be impacted by such a ban, he said.
“The profiling will examine the types of skills they currently possess and the kinds of interventions needed to align them with potential jobs created from realized investments,” he said.
He likewise said that the government cannot simply wait for the day POGOs are halted.
“We must start transitioning now,” he told reporters in Filipino.
He also noted that DOLE is actively organizing job fairs in collaboration with the private sector and the Public Employment Service Officers (PESO) to provide employment opportunities, services, and programs for job seekers.
In late June, the labor bureau reported that approximately 22,000 Filipinos employed in legal POGOs in Metro Manila alone could lose their jobs if online gaming companies are banned in the country.
The nationwide effect has yet to be determined as per the labor and economic officials but said numbers could be “bigger.”
However, the National Economic Development Authority earlier said that the national government has yet to discuss calls to ban POGOs in the country.
While the economic department acknowledged that banning POGOs would result in significant revenue losses, it said that government attention should be shifted to generating high-quality jobs.”
