Marcos Jr. orders ban on POGOs, vows aid for displaced workers

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ordered a ban on all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), directing the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to assist displaced workers.

The Bureau of Immigration will deny pending and new visa applications for POGO and Internet Gaming Licensee workers and will revoke the visas of foreigners employed in POGO firms following the ban.

The DOLE anticipates over 20,000 Filipino workers will lose their jobs with the closure of POGOs by the end of the year, with around 15,000 in Metro Manila alone.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma stated that the number of affected workers could rise as this figure currently includes workers from 34 IGLs in Metro Manila, with 5,000 workers tallied in Cavite and Laguna.

The DOLE is profiling affected workers by assessing their skills, current positions, salaries, and preferences to identify suitable job opportunities or provide upskilling programs and job-hunting assistance.

PAGCOR estimates approximately 40,000 Filipino workers from 43 legal POGOs will be affected by the ban.