6,000 foreign workers to exit PH ahead of POGO ban deadline

Around 6,000 foreign workers are expected to leave the Philippines before the year-end deadline for the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators  (POGOs), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Monday.

In a public briefing, BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval urged foreign POGO  employees to downgrade their visas, emphasizing that the December 31  deadline for the ban would not be extended.

“Around 6,000 ang expected na aalis ng bansa.. Paulit-ulit nating sinasabi  walang extension ang December 31 deadline. Wala ng pag-asa na ma-extend  ito at wag na patagalin pa dun sa foreign POGO workers,” said Sandoval.

(Around 6,000 workers are expected to leave the country. We have repeatedly said that the December 31 deadline would not be extended.)

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ordered a nationwide ban on POGOs in July following numerous cases linking the industry to crimes such as human trafficking, illegal detention, and financial scams.

The BI had set an October 15 deadline for former foreign POGO workers to downgrade their 9G work visas to tourist visas, allowing them to legally remain in the country for up to  59 days. Sandoval disclosed that over 21,000 foreign workers had applied for the downgrade.

She reminded workers that compliance was necessary if they wished to return to the Philippines in the future.

“If they have a reason to come back to the Philippines— may asawa, may  anak sila dito sa Pilipinas—they should comply with the regulations.  They should go out of the country as part of the downgrading and they  may return kung meron silang lehitimong rason na bumalik sa Pilipinas,”  she said.

(If they have valid reasons to come back—such as having a spouse or children here—they should follow the regulations, leave the country as part of the downgrading process, and they may return if they have a legitimate reason.)

Failure to comply, Sandoval warned, would result in blacklisting.

“Kapag hindi umalis, hindi sila nag-comply sa regulations, they will be  blacklisted. Meaning, they will be prohibited from re-entering the  Philippines at lalong magiging mas mahirap for them to reunite with their families. That’s why we follow the policies of the national government,” she added.

(Non-compliance will lead to blacklisting, meaning they will be prohibited from re-entering the Philippines. This would make it harder for them to reunite with their families. That’s why it’s important to follow the policies set by the national government.)

In  November, Marcos issued Executive Order No. 74, which extended the ban to include illegal offshore gaming operations, new license applications, license renewals, and ongoing operations.

An inter-agency task force, which includes the BI, Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), was formed to oversee the closure of POGOs and assist affected workers.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation  (PAGCOR) also confirmed that no POGOs would be operating in the country by the end of the year. — DVM, GMA Integrated News