Departing passengers queue before the immigration counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on July 4, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration has issued another reminder for foreign workers of all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators to voluntarily downgrade their visas before the October 15 deadline.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado reiterated in a statement that there will be no extensions for filing, and those who will file after the deadline will be ordered to leave the country.

The BI said it conducted a briefing last September 30, together with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, with representatives of POGO companies.

The BI said it may conduct implementation days for POGO companies where it could implement downgraded visa status and issue exit clearances on-site.

READ: BI to fast-track exit applications of POGOs

The BI also noted that more than 10,000 POGO workers have already filed for visa downgrading, which allows foreign nationals to revert their work visa to temporary visitor visas to remain legally in the country for 59 days while “winding down their affairs.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address, ordered foreign POGO workers to leave the country by the end of the year.

"We are expediting the downgrading process to comply with the President's directive. We encourage POGO workers to file as early as possible to avoid complications," said Viado.

The Marcos administration has formed an interagency task force composed of the BI, PAGCOR, Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Employment, and other agencies to oversee the closure of POGOs and assist affected workers.

The BI stressed that foreign workers who fail to downgrade or leave the country by December 31 will be deported or blacklisted.

20,000 foreign POGO workers told to leave Philippines in 60 days