Philippine immigration data shows that around 8,000 foreign offshore gaming operator (POGO) workers have downgraded their work visas to tourist visas.
Around 8,000 foreign Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) workers who downgraded their work visas to tourist visas have yet to voluntarily leave the country, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
This comes less than two weeks before the December 31, 2024 deadline for POGO hubs to cease operations.
An estimated 23,000 to 24,000 of these POGO workers have voluntarily departed the country after downgrading their visas, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said on December 19. This number is out of 33,000 foreign POGO workers registered with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
"But there is a substantial number [of workers who still remain in the country], I think about 7,000 to 8,000," he said during the BI’s year-end press briefing.
Beyond Chinese individuals, who make up majority of the POGO foreigner workforce, there are also some workers from beyond Asia. "There are even some from Africa. So it involves various nationalities—it’s not confined to just one nationality," he said.
Viado however also pointed out that around 1,000 foreigners, remained "unaccounted for" as they had not yet applied for the voluntary downgrading of their visas. He said they “will continue to seek them out also.”
Following President Marcos’ order to ban POGOs in the country, which he announced during his State of the Nation Address in July, the BI, under the directive of the Department of Justice, allowed foreign POGO workers to voluntarily downgrade their work visas until October 18.
After that window, those who volunteered to downgrade to tourist visas were given until December 31 to voluntarily leave the country. The grace period, according to officials, should give them enough time to wind down their business before totally closing operations.
The visas of the 1,000 workers still unaccounted for were canceled. The cancellation came with an "order to leave," but Viado said they still have until December 31 to downgrade.
"Beyond December 31, if they fail to downgrade, visit our office, and leave, they will be blacklisted and subject to deportation proceedings. That is what will happen to those who fail to voluntarily depart and downgrade within the period specified by the bureau and other agencies," the BI chief added.
President Marcos issued a warning last week to those still running guerrilla or rogue POGO and internet gaming licensees (IGLs) after the cancellation of their licenses.
Viado said the Bureau remained on the lookout for large POGO operations still defying the ban by splintering into smaller, "guerrilla"-style operations.
"We continue to pursue them, in cooperation with other agencies involved in this matter, in line with the President’s directive to sustain efforts in shutting down and cracking down on these POGO companies," he said.
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