Lacson asks PAGCOR to explain partial reopening of POGOs

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday called on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to explain the partial reopening of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) operations, while Metro Manila and some urban areas are still under enhanced community quarantine.

"Dapat magpaliwanag para sa kaalaman, ma-educate hindi lang mga senador kundi mga tao kung bakit kailangan payagan. Demokrasya naman tayo. Kung ano ang point of view ng PAGCOR, gusto naming mga senador marinig," Lacson said in a radio interview.

Recently, the government allowed the partial reopening of POGO operations, with PAGCOR chair and CEO Andrea Domingo saying only 30% of the industry's total workforce will be allowed to report for work, provided that they follow precautionary measures.

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

"Naintindihan ko ang gobyerno lalo PAGCOR kasi ang laki ng nakukuha nila sa POGO. Sa ngayon ang filing ng ITR (income tax return) 'di ba postponed hanggang June, so walang nakolekta ang BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue)," Lacson said.

"Tapos ang PAGCOR sarado ang lahat na hotel-based casino, wala silang makukuha from the casino. E ang POGO ang laki ng pera nito at lalo sa BIR," he added.

Some senators have already voiced their opinion against the reopening of POGOs.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, for one, stressed that the projected annual P7 billion revenues from POGOs is nothing compared to the possible P2.5 trillion losses due to COVID-19.

"'We cannot afford another lockdown due to re-emergence of the virus. Let's focus our energies eliminating the spread of the virus rather than fighting fires the POGOs will eventually create," he said.

Senator Joel Villanueva, for his part, said he does not see the logic in reopening POGOs, especially that experts say it is an essential sector.

"Sakaling magkaroon ng outbreak ang industriya at dito nagsimula sa POGO sector, sino po bang gobyerno ang gagambalain nito? Kaninong salapi po ba ang gagastusin na naman para i-address ang problemang ito?" he said.

Upon resumption of their operations, 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. —LBG, GMA News