Philippine Senator Mark Villar assured that workers employed by Special Class Business Process Outsourcing (SCBPO) companies will not be impacted by the complete ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.
Following an inspection of SCBPOs in Aseana, Parañaque City, accompanied by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman Alejandro H. Tengco, Villar provided this guarantee. He noted that in the upcoming Senate hearings, SCBPO workers will not be included in the closures expected before the end of the year, ensuring that related Filipino workers will not lose their jobs.
While supporting the closure of illegal POGOs, Villar emphasized the importance of properly implementing the President’s directive to protect Filipino workers. As the chair of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, Villar conducted the inspection to gain a deeper understanding of SCBPO operations.
Villar explained that the inspection aimed to observe SCBPO operations and understand how they differ from POGOs, which will be shut down at the end of the year. According to Tengco, SCBPOs regulated by PAGCOR employ over 4,900 Filipino workers and 137 foreign nationals. He noted that PAGCOR guidelines require 95 percent of the workforce in SCBPOs to be Filipino, highlighting a significant difference between SCBPOs and POGOs.
Tengco added that if SCBPOs under all investment promotion agencies (IPAs) are considered, the total number of Filipino workers would reach 10,000. He also clarified that SCBPOs serve only as service providers for land-based gaming entities abroad and do not handle bets.
Following President Marcos’ declaration of a total ban on POGOs during his third State of the Nation Address in July, PAGCOR has suspended the issuance of new licenses for SCBPOs.
