Senators inspect SCBPOs to ensure compliance, assure workers' job security

Senator Mark Villar assured employees of Special Class Business Process Outsourcing (SCBPO) firms that they will not be affected by the total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Villar, along with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and PAGCOR chair Al Tengco, inspected SCBPOs in Aseana, Parañaque City to ensure compliance.

Tengco noted that 95% of workers in SCBPOs are Filipinos, distinguishing them from illegal POGOs which employ mostly foreigners.

Gatchalian emphasized the need for a holistic approach to enforce the ban on all POGO operations, including addressing illegal hubs and ensuring tax compliance.

The senators highlighted discrepancies between reported gross gaming revenue (GGR) by POGOs to PAGCOR and BIR, indicating potential tax evasion worth PHP2 to PHP5 billion.

Villar assured SCBPO workers that they will not lose their jobs as the inspections aim to differentiate legal SCBPO operations from illegal POGO activities.