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Officials from various government agencies attend the senate Inquiry on money laundering, crimes, and other illegal activities associated with the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, held at the Senate building in Pasay City on March 05, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Officials from various government agencies attend the senate Inquiry on money laundering, crimes, and other illegal activities associated with the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, held at the Senate building in Pasay City on March 05, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

POGOs

Zen Hernandez

ABS-CBN News

<div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">MANILA -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has commenced the process of profiling workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) who may be displaced in the coming days.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">This comes in the wake of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s </span><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/marcos-jr-orders-pogos-to-cease-operations-by-end-of-year-1603"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/marcos-jr-orders-pogos-to-cease-operations-by-end-of-year-1603">ban on POGOs</a></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Ang profiling na ginagawa ng DOLE as of now is intended to really look at, ano ang kasalukuyang trabaho ng mga manggagawa sa IGLs [Internet Gaming Licensees]? Ano ang level ng kanilang sweldo tinitingnan din namin, at tinitingnan din namin ang preference nila, ano bang klase ang pwede nating maipagkaloob na trabaho?,&quot; said Labor Secretary Bienvenido &quot;Benny&quot; Laguesma.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/23/pogos-and-igls-are-the-same-both-banned-pagcor-1958"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/23/pogos-and-igls-are-the-same-both-banned-pagcor-1958">POGOs and IGLs are the same, both banned: PAGCOR</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">According to Laguesma, there are 79 POGOs -- now also called IGLs -- operating nationwide, based on information received from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">He admits, however, that it is hard to ascertain how many are operating illegally.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The DOLE is also still in the process of collating the list of POGO workers. So far, initial lists have been submitted from the National Capital Region and Regions 4A and 3.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;In so far as the NCR is concerned, there is an estimate of more or less 15,000 workers representing submissions made by 34 IGLs,&quot; said Laguesma. &quot;As far as the Region 4A is concerned, the initial na report pa rin of the number, and this covers the Laguna and Cavite area, more or less 5,000 workers.&quot;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;In so far as the region 3 is concerned which is Central Luzon, ang sabi ng report ng regional director diyan ay isa na lang ang IGL. Pero may mga related siguro na mga trabaho or negosyo na dapat ay i-consider namin dun sa pagbabalangkas namin ng plan of action,&quot; he added.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">On top of the DOLE’s plan of action is finding new employment for the POGO workers. The department is looking to tap the help of the IT-BPO sector and several other industries.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Malaking bahagi don ay nandodoon sa mga encoders, mga encoders. So ibig sabihin, pwede talagang i-link up sa ating IT-BPO management sector,&quot; Laguesma said. &quot;Hindi lang naman sa IT. Kasi may mga manggagawa na maaapektuhan, ang trabaho nila administrative, HR, at meron din yung mga utilities and maintenance.&quot;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Laguesma assured that DOLE will also assist all POGO workers in claiming their benefits and the availment of unemployment insurance from the Social Security System (SSS). The DOLE will also offer other programs that may help displaced workers, depending on their needs and according to their personal circumstances.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;May mga programa naman ang Department of Labor and Employment in place to help either temporarily, sa pamamagitan ng aming programa na ang pangalan ay TUPAD, pwede rin naman kami sa livelihood, yung jobs fair na nabanggit ko kanina which we will be doing especially for this purpose,&quot; he said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The DOLE is also planning to mount more job fairs to offer jobs alternatives, not just to workers that will be affected by the POGO ban, but also to other displaced workers, the unemployed and underemployed.</span></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mDGbDVlZ5Lo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has commenced the process of profiling workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) who may be displaced in the coming days.</p>

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has commenced the process of profiling workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) who may be displaced in the coming days.

DOLE profiling POGO workers for possible re-employment

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DOLE profiling POGO workers for possible re-employment

Zen Hernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 24, 2024 02:55 PM PHT

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POGO

DOLE

Department of Labor and Employment

Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators

POGO ban

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