July 23, 2024
MANILA – Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) are officially banned in the Philippines, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced on Monday.
“Effective today, all POGOs are banned,” Marcos said during his third State of the Nation Address.
“I hereby instruct the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year,” he said.
Following this pronouncement, Marcos instructed the Department of Labor and Employment, in coordination with the administration’s economic managers, to use the time “between now and then” to find new jobs for Filipinos who will be displaced.
In his speech, the President emphasized that banning Pogos would “solve many of the problems that the country has been encountering,” but noted that “it will not solve all of them.”
“To solve all the problems that we have been suffering — all officials, workers in government, and most of all the citizenry must always be vigilant, principled, and think of the health of the nation,” Marcos said.
He then recalled the words of John Stuart Mill, whom he called a wise man: “Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he cannot harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.”
Concluding his speech, Marcos said Filipinos should fight wrong and evil.
“Let us always fight for right and good. Let us always love the Philippines, let us always love Filipinos,” he said.
Marcos’ stance on Pogos was one of the most-awaited topics in his speech.
Opposition to Pogos is mounting, with several lawmakers urging the President to completely ban them in the Philippines, pointing out that these only “made the country a fertile ground for various crimes.”
Critics from the business sector, economic think tanks, and political groups cite the minimal economic contribution compared to significant social costs, including links to criminal activities such as human trafficking, kidnapping, and money laundering.
Pogos have also driven up real estate prices, making housing less affordable.
At the same time, concerns over national security and regulatory compliance further fuel the call for action.