According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), about 100,000 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers have not yet been deported.
This was reported by Senator Grace Poe, who defended the proposed budget for the Bureau of Immigration during the Senate plenary session deliberating the General Appropriations Act of 2025 or the proposed measure containing the country's spending plan.
Senator Poe, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, stated: "There are still one hundred thousand POGO workers who have not been deported."
Poe cited the latest data from the Bureau of Immigration, which indicated that 1,370 POGO workers have been deported, and 1,172 have been repatriated.
Senator Raffy Tulfo inquired about how the Bureau of Immigration ensures that offshore gaming company workers who leave the Philippines have fulfilled their obligations in the country, prompting the provision of these data.
"How do we handle the departure of offshore gaming company employees, especially if they are employers and still have responsibilities towards their former employees? How do we ensure they do not have pending cases before dismissing these offshore gaming company workers?" Tulfo asked.
In response, Poe mentioned that the Bureau of Immigration is currently reducing the level of work visas issued to foreigners working in the Philippine offshore gaming industry, allowing them to stay in the Philippines until their cases are resolved.
In September last year, the Bureau of Immigration stated it would expedite the processing of exit applications for foreign workers in POGO (now known as Internet Gaming License holders (IGL)).
POGO workers must voluntarily downgrade by October 15, or they will be ordered to leave the Philippines within the next 59 days, or face deportation proceedings by December 31.
As of September 24, the Bureau of Immigration reported that it had downgraded 5,955 visas, with over 55% having already left the Philippines.
In July last year, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced a ban on POGO in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) and ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to gradually close and cease all operations by the end of the year.
Last week, the President signed Executive Order No. 74, prohibiting the operation of POGO and internet gaming businesses, as well as other offshore gaming operations in the country.
