Philippine Senator Mark Villar assured that workers employed by Special Class Business Process Outsourcing (SCBPO) companies will remain unaffected by the complete ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.
After conducting an inspection of SCBPOs in Aseana, Parañaque City, Senator Villar gave this guarantee. He was joined by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman Alejandro H. Tengco.
Villar emphasized that upcoming Senate hearings will protect SCBPO workers. Although the government expects POGO closures before year-end, he confirmed that SCBPO operations will continue, ensuring job security for Filipino workers.
Villar expressed support for shutting down illegal POGOs. However, he also stressed the importance of enforcing the President’s directive in a way that safeguards legitimate Filipino employment.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, Villar led the site inspection. His goal was to gain a deeper understanding of how SCBPOs operate.
He explained that the inspection aimed to clearly distinguish SCBPO operations from those of POGOs, which the government plans to close by the end of the year.
During the visit, PAGCOR Chairman Tengco shared more details. He stated that PAGCOR-regulated SCBPOs employ more than 4,900 Filipino workers and 137 foreign nationals.
Moreover, Tengco pointed out that PAGCOR requires 95 percent of each SCBPO workforce to be Filipino. This rule serves as a key difference from POGOs, which employ a far higher share of foreign workers.
Tengco further noted that if the government includes SCBPOs operating under all investment promotion agencies (IPAs), the total number of Filipino workers would increase to 10,000.
He clarified another important point: SCBPOs only provide services to land-based gaming companies operating abroad. They do not accept or process bets of any kind.
Additionally, SCBPOs work only with clients that hold gaming licenses in foreign jurisdictions. They strictly do not handle bets or payouts.
This operational structure sets SCBPOs apart from POGOs, which also manage the financial aspects of online gaming.
