Duterte admin sees POGO operations as 'very essential' —Bato

The Duterte administration considers the activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) as "very essential," Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa made the remark on Saturday as he defended the government's move to allow partial operations of POGOs even during the prevailing enhanced community quarantine.

In a radio interview, Dela Rosa said POGO operations are essential for the government as they could generate income that could help augment the funding for measures against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"Well give and take 'yan. [Kung] sabihin mo hindi essential, totoo nga hindi essential. Pero in the part of the admin, very essential 'yan dahil kailangan nila ng panggastos sa COVID," he said.

"Sinasabi nila malaki dagdag sa kita ng gobyerno pero dapat siguraduhin nila na hindi 'yan makadagdag sa pagkalat ng virus sa ating komunidad," he added.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said POGOs are classified under the business process outsourcing industry, which the government has allowed to resume operations.

“Ang BPOs po ay ina-allow at ang POGO po talaga ay isang BPO,” Roque said during the Laging Handa briefing on Friday, adding POGOs must comply with regulations before they can operate again.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo has said only 30% of the total workforce will be allowed to report for work, provided that they follow precautionary measures.

POGO firms will be required to provide private buses which will transport the workers from their houses to their workplace and vice versa. Those who will be required to work must be the ones residing within the five-kilometer radius of the office.

Around 60 POGO companies are expected to reopen after around a week of validation and preparations, Domingo added.

Dela Rosa said should POGO employees get infected with COVID-19, they should immediately quarantine themselves.

"Dapat tutukan talaga na hindi puwedeng pabayaan na ganu'n. E kung sila-sila magkahawahan doon, huwag sila payagan lumabas. Dapat naka-quarantine sila, bawal sila lumabas," he said. —KG, GMA News