NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Clock's Ticking: POGO Workers Urged To Pack Up And Leave By Year-End
Photo credit: BI
The clock is winding down for foreign workers in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) to leave the country, and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) isn’t mincing words. With the December 31, 2024, deadline looming, the BI is urging compliance to avoid the dreaded blacklist and ensure a smoother return in the future, especially for those with families in the Philippines.
At the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval laid it out plainly: “That’s the advice that we are giving. If they have reason to come back to the Philippines, they have a wife, they have a child here in the Philippines, they should comply with the regulations. They should go out of the country as part of the downgrading and order to leave, and they may return if they have a reason, a legitimate reason to return to the Philippines.”
The key takeaway? Compliance now makes reunions later a possibility. “Because if they don’t leave, they didn’t comply with the regulations, they will be blacklisted, meaning they will be prevented from re-entering the Philippines. And it will be even more difficult for them to reunite with their families,” Sandoval warned.
The numbers are no small matter. Around 6,000 POGO workers, whose visas have already been downgraded, are expected to pack up and leave by the year-end deadline.
“We keep saying, there is no extension of the December 31 deadline. We expect them to leave the country in the next few days. Because if they don’t leave after December 31, then they will be subject to blacklisting – deportation proceedings,” Sandoval emphasized.
This is all part of a broader move under Executive Order (EO) 74, signed by President Marcos in November, which mandates a total ban on offshore gaming operations in the Philippines. POGOs must wrap up their operations and comply with the order before the curtain falls on 2024.
For those affected, it’s crunch time. Complying with the regulations could mean the difference between saying a temporary goodbye and a permanent farewell to the Philippines.
At the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval laid it out plainly: “That’s the advice that we are giving. If they have reason to come back to the Philippines, they have a wife, they have a child here in the Philippines, they should comply with the regulations. They should go out of the country as part of the downgrading and order to leave, and they may return if they have a reason, a legitimate reason to return to the Philippines.”
The key takeaway? Compliance now makes reunions later a possibility. “Because if they don’t leave, they didn’t comply with the regulations, they will be blacklisted, meaning they will be prevented from re-entering the Philippines. And it will be even more difficult for them to reunite with their families,” Sandoval warned.
The numbers are no small matter. Around 6,000 POGO workers, whose visas have already been downgraded, are expected to pack up and leave by the year-end deadline.
“We keep saying, there is no extension of the December 31 deadline. We expect them to leave the country in the next few days. Because if they don’t leave after December 31, then they will be subject to blacklisting – deportation proceedings,” Sandoval emphasized.
This is all part of a broader move under Executive Order (EO) 74, signed by President Marcos in November, which mandates a total ban on offshore gaming operations in the Philippines. POGOs must wrap up their operations and comply with the order before the curtain falls on 2024.
For those affected, it’s crunch time. Complying with the regulations could mean the difference between saying a temporary goodbye and a permanent farewell to the Philippines.
Dec 26, 2024
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