Around 3,000 foreign workers employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have already left the Philippines after authorities downgraded their visas, according to a statement from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Saturday. BI Officer-in-Charge Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado reported at a “Task Force POGO Closure” meeting that, as of September 24th, they had downgraded 5,955 visas. About 55 percent of those workers have since exited the country.
The task force, which includes representatives from the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), was joined by members of the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation during the meeting.
Viado announced that the task force decided to hold service days for POGO companies, during which teams will visit POGO sites to downgrade visas on the spot and issue exit clearances. DOLE representatives will also collect the alien employment permits surrendered by POGO workers.
This coordinated effort aims to expedite the departure process for foreign workers employed by POGOs, now officially referred to as Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs).
The DOJ has given foreign POGO workers until October 15th to voluntarily downgrade their visas. Those who fail to comply by the deadline will have 59 days to leave the country, after which deportation proceedings will begin. Workers still in the country after December 31st will face arrest, deportation, and blacklisting from the Philippines.
Viado noted that while current efforts are advancing, authorities expect greater challenges in 2025 as they shift focus to apprehending those who refuse to leave and initiate deportations.