DOF to help displaced POGO workers find new jobs

Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto assured that the agency will assist Filipino workers in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) in finding new employment.

This assurance comes after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to cease POGO operations by the end of the year.

The DOF will collaborate with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to ensure displaced workers receive reskilling and upskilling training and that their incomes are not severely disrupted.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian had previously urged the administration to provide assistance to Filipino POGO workers and assured that any legislation to ban POGOs would include safety nets.

Gatchalian also emphasized the need for upskilling and reskilling programs for these workers.

Recto had previously submitted a cost-benefit analysis recommending the prohibition of POGO operations due to reputational risks and social costs.

The DOF estimates the net cost of POGO operations at PHP99.52 billion annually, while estimated total economic benefits reach PHP166.49 billion per year, which includes government revenues from BIR and PAGCOR.