Date: September 4, 2024
Topic: Gaming and Entertainment Committee Meeting
Departments Attending: PAGCOR, Department of Labor, Senators (Immigration Bureau absent)
1. Illegal gambling confirmed at Aseana JX Tower floors 5-11, license revoked as of May 27, 2024.
2. Over the past two months, PAGCOR has revoked 5 IGL licenses, reducing the number from 46 to 41.
3. PAGCOR Chairman reiterated that SCBPO (previously mentioned service and technology companies) licenses have no special exemptions.
4. PAGCOR is monitoring some IGL companies attempting to enter the special economic zone.
5. The island in Krabi will be closed by December 15, 2024, as explicitly mentioned in the closure plan submitted to PAGCOR by the Oriental Company.
6. The presidential executive order on the POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) ban is still being drafted, expected to be released in September.
7. PAGCOR has not yet provided a clear timeline for the closure of POGOs.
8. PAGCOR confirms that the Immigration Bureau will cancel all foreign employee visas for IGL companies. For IGL companies with more than 3000 foreign employees, the Immigration Bureau will deploy a special team to the IGL offices to expedite visa downgrades and exit procedures. The cancellation of 9G visas is expected within 59 days before December 31, 2024 (around November 1-2).
9. Senator Chiz Escudero has requested the Philippine National Police (PNP) to monitor the 41 IGL companies to ensure they are indeed dissolving.
