The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) has announced that only 12,000 of the over 30,000 foreign workers employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have voluntarily downgraded their visas.
This process enabled workers to transition from work visas to temporary visitor visas, allowing them to legally remain in the country for up to 59 days while finalizing their departure plans.
The deadline for voluntary visa downgrading passed on October 15th, with no extensions provided.
According to The Manila Times, the BI, alongside other government agencies, will now focus on foreign workers who did not comply and continue to operate in smaller, more discreet online gaming locations. These hubs, often hidden within resorts or residential areas, are now the primary target for enforcement.
Authorities are determined to address this issue by year’s end, with the BI aiming to take action by December 31st. Non-compliant foreign workers will be arrested and face deportation.
A multi-agency task force, including the Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, has been established to tackle this situation.
This coordinated effort highlights the government’s resolve to ensure that remaining POGO workers either regularize their status or leave the country.