MANILA – More than 40,000 Filipino workers who will be affected by the closure of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), by the end of the year have been profiled so far.
“Sa ngayon po ang ating mga regional offices ay nakapagsagawa na ng profiling sa mahigit kumulang 40,962 workers mula sa po sa ating nasubmit ng Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) na data (As of now, our regional offices have profiled about 40,962 workers from the submitted PAGCOR data),” Director Patrick Patriwirawan Jr. of the Bureau of Employment - Department of Labor and Employment said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Wednesday.
According to Patriwirawan, the total number of profiled workers is 79,335, including foreign nationals.
“Priority nating tutukan ang mga Filipino workers (Our priority is the Filipino workers),” he added.
The profiled workers are employed in Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Central Visayas, with salaries ranging from PHP16,000 to PHP22,000.
Aside from enhancing skills for reemployment opportunities, the DOLE is providing livelihood assistance amounting to as much as PHP30,000 to affected workers to start a small business.
Patriwirawan also reported that affected workers could join the Job fair at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay along Macapagal Boulevard, Parañaque City on Oct. 10 where about 70 employers are participating.
The participating employers are BPO/IT companies, hospitality and tourism-related companies, general services, and wholesale/retail industries.
The POGOs have until the end of 2024 to cease their operations, as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PNA)
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