Senator Padilla Files Resolution on POGO Workers

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MANILA, Philippines — The government must be clear about its plans to support the estimated 40,000 Filipino workers who are set to lose their jobs due to the upcoming closure of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).


Senator Robinhood Padilla emphasized this need as he submitted Senate Resolution 1091, urging the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media to address the issue.


"Given the thousands of Filipino workers who will be negatively impacted by the shutdown of POGOs in the country, the public deserves to know what actions and programs the government intends to implement to tackle this problem," Padilla stated in his resolution filed on Monday evening.


Padilla heads the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media. 


In his State of the Nation Address on July 22, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a ban on POGOs and directed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to cease their operations by the end of the year. The President also tasked the Department of Labor and Employment with collaborating with economic managers to find alternative employment for the affected workers.


"Pagcor chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco stated that the closure of POGOs will displace approximately 31,000 direct POGO employees and over 9,000 workers in specialized business process outsourcing," Padilla mentioned.


While acknowledging the financial benefits and employment opportunities that POGOs have provided, Padilla pointed out that law enforcement agencies have reported severe social issues linked to the gaming operations, including financial scams, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, and even murder.


Furthermore, the Philippine National Police has received numerous reports of kidnapping-for-ransom and torture cases involving Chinese POGO workers being victimized by their compatriots.


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