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Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR) Chairman Alejandro Tengco has called for sparing Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs) catering for gambling firms, saying that these companies were “not directly involved in gambling and that thousands of Filipino jobs would be saved.”
According to news reports from the Philippines, Tengco had mentioned his proposal to “retain the operations of the 12 special BPOs” to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who had ordered the complete shutdown of all POGOs, including the 43 Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) under PAGCOR, by the end of 2024.
“It’s a pity, it’s regrettable. All I’m coming from is a sense of regret. But, if they say that it will just be used to mask IGLs, then I will respect and we follow.” Tengco was quoted saying. Tengco also added that another six companies were applying for special BPO permits.
The 12 special BPOs mentioned had been providing services for gaming companies based in Australia, Canada, Europe, and the United States. There are more than 9,000 Filipino workers under their employment currently.
Regarding the possibility of many local workers losing their jobs, the Philippines’ President had requested government agencies to assist the affected people.
A Workers’ Transition Program would be implemented to assist affected local Filipino employees; something which Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary, Arsenio Balisacan had earlier mentioned.
Aside from job loss issues, PAGCOR also voiced other concerns regarding the POGO ban, including loss of state revenue and the ban making it harder to track existing POGOs.
