Philippines Warns 20,000 Foreign POGO Workers to Leave by Year-End or Face Blacklisting

The Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Monday that it anticipates around 20,000 former POGO workers will leave the country by the end of the month as the enforcement of the offshore gaming ban approaches.

In its statement, the BI emphasized that foreign POGO workers must adhere to the government’s deadline to exit the country by year-end. Those who fail to comply risk facing deportation and being blacklisted from reentry.

As of November 7, the agency reported that 21,757 foreign nationals connected to POGO operations had voluntarily downgraded their work visas to temporary visitor visas. Of these, 10,821 had already departed the country. Additionally, the BI revealed that 12,106 individuals who did not downgrade their visas were issued cancellation orders in October.

The crackdown stems from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s declaration in his July State of the Nation Address, where he announced an immediate ban on POGOs, giving them until December 31, 2024, to cease all operations. The ban was formally enacted through an Executive Order in early November.

The BI stated that it aims to facilitate an orderly departure process for affected foreign workers and urged individuals to finalize their travel plans as soon as possible to meet the deadline.

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