The chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Tengco, recently stated that President Marcos responded "positively" to his idea of not including the special "Business Process Outsourcing" (BPO) services provided to gaming companies in the order to shut down Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
Before the budget hearing of PAGCOR, Tengco mentioned that he met with the president on Tuesday morning and informed him that retaining these special BPO services could save the jobs of ten thousand workers.
Tengco said: "BPO does not directly participate in the operations of POGO and does not collect bets."
He added, "The Department of Labor (DOLE) supports this idea, and President Marcos told him to thoroughly study the proposal and submit the final plan to him."
Tengco also told lawmakers that PAGCOR is considering setting up a fund to assist the Department of Labor in helping unemployed workers and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in supporting the possible repatriation costs for some foreign workers who cannot return to their home countries due to lack of funds.
Tengco told Representative Stella Kimbo, “My commitment to the Department of Labor and the Department of Justice is that I will find a way to explore how PAGCOR can help by establishing the fund you mentioned."
Tengco added that President Marcos told him to assist displaced workers.
