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Bill to outlaw POGOs
By Nidz Godino
“Republic Act No. 11590, otherwise known as ‘Act Taxing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations… is hereby repealed,” Senate Bill 2689 filed by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian read, bill was filed in Senate seeking to outrightly ban operations of offshore gaming hubs following series of raids on those involved in crimes.
Gatchalian said this would effectively ban POGOs by repealing the only law that legitimized offshore gaming hub.
Bill was filed following inaction from Malacañang on Senate’s recommendation to ban POGOs because of its involvement in human trafficking and scams and its minimal contribution to economy.
“Main goal is ultimately to outlaw and prohibit offshore gaming operations in the country,” Gatchalian said.
In his bill, Gatchalian cited raids on following POGO hubs for criminal activities , Colorful and Leap Group in Clark Freeport Zone; Xinchuang Network Technology in Las Piñas; Smart Web Technology in Pasay and Zun Yuan Technology in Bamban, Tarlac, where its mayor, Alice Guo was allegedly involved in its operation.
Gatchalian also cited cost-benefit analysis of Department of Finance in 2022 that POGO operations generated economic benefits worth P133.7 billion against P144.5 billion lost annually due to foregone potential investments and tourism revenues, with costs to enforcement and immigration.
This resulted in net cost of P3.3 billion to P14 billion annually, equivalent to 0.01 percent to 0.06 percent of gross domestic product, respectively, Gatchalian added.“This means POGO operations have brought more harm than good, as economic costs greatly outweigh benefits derived from such operations,” Gatchalian concluded
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