According to the DOF, the economic costs of POGOs amount to a total of P265.74 billion, which outweighs the supposed benefits amounting to P166.49 billion.
The Philippine government's decision to shutter the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) by the end of the year will not leave a big dent in the country’s economy, based on data from the Department of Finance (DOF).
According to the DOF, the economic costs of POGOs amount to a total of P265.74 billion, which significantly outweighs the supposed benefits amounting to P166.49 billion.
While some may argue that the industry contributed to the nation's coffers, the economic costs of POGOs far outweigh any potential benefits.
"Abonado pa ng sambayanang Pilipino ng halos isang daang bilyon. (The Filipino people are owed nearly a hundred billion pesos)," Senator Joel Villanueva, co-author of the Anti-POGO Act of 2024, emphasized in his speech at the Senate on December 9, 2024.
"These amounts do not even include social costs - loss of life, physical and psychological harm to victims, and the increased sense of fear and anxiety in communities associated with POGO activities. Hindi po ito basta-basta masusukat sa bilang o presyo (These cannot simply be quantified)."
Beyond the economic implications, the social costs of POGOs have been significant. The industry has been linked to various social ills, including increased crime rates, human trafficking, and prostitution.
The senator highlighted the importance of the Anti-POGO Act in ensuring a comprehensive and lasting ban on POGO operations. "This legislation is vital because the ban must extend beyond the current administration. It will be instrumental in eradicating all traces of POGOs and preventing their resurgence," he stated.
As POGOs wind down their operations, thousands of Filipino workers face uncertainty and potential unemployment. To mitigate the impact of job losses, the Anti-POGO Act includes a Workers' Transition Program, which aims to provide affected workers with job training, retraining, and placement assistance.
"The ban on POGOs is about safeguarding our society, our economy, and our future. There are still over a hundred POGOs currently operating, notwithstanding the President's order. Thus, this legislation is important and necessary because the ban should go beyond the present administration. This Act will be instrumental in eradicating all traces of POGOs in our country, including any means for them to return and resume their operations.
"With the closure of POGOs, many Filipino workers face sudden unemployment, uncertain futures, and the immense challenge of finding new jobs. Our duty as lawmakers is to make sure that no one is left behind and to help affected Filipino workers find secure and quality jobs through a Workers' Transition Program. This is one of the salient features of the Bill filed by this representation and we thank the good sponsor for including this important provision in this measure," Senator Villanueva said.
The senator's call for the swift passage of the Anti-POGO Act underscores the urgency of addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by the industry.
“I think other revenue enhancing measures of the Department of Finance will make up for this [closing down POGOs],” Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victo Remulla Jr. was quoted as saying in a report published by Business World.
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