Philippines gives 60 days off to 20,000 aliens in POGO

The estimated 20,000 foreigners who are officially estimated to work for overseas online game operators in the Philippines will have their work permits revoked and will have to leave the country no later than 60 days or by Sept. 24.

This is in accordance with the Immigration Department's order, which will take effect on Friday (26 July), issued on Wednesday under the authority of Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

It was in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday saying that Philippine offshore game operators (POGO) should close their operations in the Philippines by the end of the year.

He said the companies, now known as Internet Gaming License (IGL), "have seen businesses venture into the most remote illegal areas of the game, such as financial fraud, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, and even murder."

Most of the offshore gaming workers affected by the ban are based in Metro Manila, while some are also based in Laguna, Cavite and Central Luzon, according to a report on Thursday by the Philippine Star News outlet.

The Philippine Inquirer newspaper said Alejandro Tengko, chairman of the Philippine Entertainment Game Company, a Philippine gaming regulator, will consult with Tansinko to discuss the immigration's 60-day deadline, as Marcos has forced related companies to close until Dec. 31.

The Immigration Department said on Wednesday it had already expelled 2,300 foreigners reported as "scam hubs" operating under the guise of a gaming company in the Philippines.

In July last year, Pagcor applied for a permit conversion to IGL by introducing a new regulation for offshore operators where POGO is still allowed.

According to Pagcor, as of July 16, there were 38 IGL licensees and seven temporary licensees to offer games to international customers. On Tuesday, Mr. Tengco said that 43 licensees are now in operation.

Official data shows a total of 25,064 Filipinos employed by various POGOs as of the end of 2023 with around 22,000 in the metro Manila region.

Pagcor leader also said the Philippine government was losing about 23 billion PHP ($393.3 million) a year from licensing fees and taxes on overseas operators.

Labor Minister Bienvenido Ragsma said in June that his department was taking necessary steps to support affected Filipino workers in the event of a ban on overseas game operators.

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