AdvocatesTV • May 2, 2020
Gov't expects up to P600M from POGO operations
Photo Credit: PAGCOR Facebook Page
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government can expect up to P600 million from POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) businesses.
“Ang inaasahan po na babayaran ng POGO operators ay P400 million dun sa panahon na hindi sila nag-operate at tataas po ‘yan hanggang P600 million kapag nakapag-operate na sila,” Roque said.
The government plans to use the POGO funds for the country's COVID-19 response.
Roque assured that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) showed no special favor to POGOs who were allowed to partially operate.
He explained that POGO falls under business process outsourcing (BPO), which is one of the industries the IATF allowed to operate during the quarantine period.
“Dapat mabuksan rin sila be it ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) or GCQ (general community quarantine),” he said.
Only 30 percent of the total POGOs in the country will be allowed to resume operations. 50 percent of POGO employees will be allowed to work on site while 50 percent will work from home.
POGO operators must still comply with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) requirements and must secure tax clearance from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before resuming operations.
