October 11th, 2022
Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda
I have repeatedly asserted that POGOs employ Filipinos for a whole host of jobs, such as custodial, security, janitorial, IT back office, and other staff support work. The latest PAGCOR figures show that around 19,000 Filipinos are directly employed by POGOs and their licensees. With POGO recovery, as seen in higher tax payments, that may have increased.
POGOs also contribute around P128 billion in economic activity, which results in even more indirect activity. I estimate the indirect employment to be at around 92,000 more Filipinos. They are also at risk of losing their jobs.
The hit on investor confidence could also have adverse consequences on employment. I see no path forward for a total ban on POGOs without government impairing contracts or stepping on the rights of legitimate businesses. Those who advocate for a total end to the sector, including to legitimate players, are courting legal disaster. Remember, the Supreme Court affirmed in its most recent decision on POGO taxes that we can’t just impose unduly burdensome conditions on the sector.
As I’ve repeatedly said, a total POGO ban is burning the house to kill a rat that isn’t even in the house in the first place.