The operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) will remain suspended in all affected areas until the lifting of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) measures, according to the office of the President.
Confirmation of the ongoing suspension of POGOs, which has been a point of debate in recent weeks after PAGCOR chair Andrea Domingo called for an exemption to boost government coffers, comes after President Rodrigo Duterte extended ECQ measures in certain parts of the nation for another two weeks until 15 May.
Affected areas include Metro Manila, Benguet, Pangasinan, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Albay, Catanduanes, Davao del Norte and Davao City.
On Sunday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated that POGOs were among those operations to remain prohibited.
“They still can’t [operate] because these are considered amusement and leisure,” Roque said, as reported by state-owned Philippine News Agency.
“They are included in the negative list which also bars the reopening of schools, places of worship, industries and tourism.”
Roque warned that POGO workers caught violating quarantine measures face up to one year in prison or fines ranging from Php10,000 to Php1 million (US$197 to US$19,700) under the nation’s Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
PNA revealed that 44 Chinese nationals and nine Filipinos were arrested on Friday for allegedly continuing POGO operations in breach of ECQ measures.
There are currently 60 licensed POGOs in the Philippines, with the government pushing to reach monthly tax revenue from the sector of Php2 billion (US$39.4 million).
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