Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs in Bamban, Tarlac, and Porac, Pampanga are now ghost towns after the POGO ban.
The once bustling Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs in Bamban, Tarlac, and Porac, Pampanga now resemble ghost towns. Six months after raids shut them down due to alleged criminal activities, a sense of stillness hangs heavy in the air.
In Bamban, the sprawling compound of dismissed Mayor Alice Guo, who faces charges related to illegal POGO operations, presents a stark contrast to its former vibrancy. Unkempt grass now blankets the grounds, interspersed with dust-covered luxury vehicles. The Olympic-sized swimming pool, once a centerpiece of the opulent complex, lies empty, its water supply cut off.
Inside, the offices bear the marks of hasty abandonment. Partitions are broken, and discarded belongings, spoiled food, and scattered garbage litter the floors, painting a picture of the chaos that ensued during the raid.
The POGO hub in Porac tells a similar story. The Lucky South 99 compound, once teeming with activity, is now eerily quiet. Only a few remain – security guards and the occasional stray goat grazing on the overgrown grounds. The once-occupied dormitories, hastily vacated by POGO workers, are now filled with cobwebs and the lingering scent of decay.
The government aims to repurpose these abandoned hubs. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has plans to utilize these properties for the public good, potentially transforming them into schools, training centers, or even social welfare facilities.
“Ang iniisip natin dito is mapakinabangan ng gobyerno. Like yung mga malalaking POGO hubs na yan, pwedeng gawing mga eskwelahan niya, pwedeng gawing mga kampo o training centers. Kung halimbawa, manalo yung kaso namin at maging property ito ng gobyerno at pwede namang ibenta kasi yung mga biktima ng human trafficking pwede silang matulungan nito (The government can benefit from this. The big POGO hubs can be turned into classrooms, camps or training centers. If we win the case, these POGO hubs can become government properties and also be sold and used to help human rights victims),” said PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz, as reported by GMA News.
However, the economic impact of the POGO ban is significant. Leechiu Property Consultants estimates that over a million square meters of office space will remain vacant after the POGO ban, impacting the real estate market for years to come.
The POGO industry, while once a significant contributor to the Philippine economy, is now a distant memory, leaving behind a trail of abandoned structures and a lingering sense of uncertainty.
Read related article: PH Government to Seize POGO-Owned Assets
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