The Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Monday that it expects around 20,000 former POGO workers to depart the country by the end of the month as the countdown to the ban on the offshore gaming industry becoming law gathers pace.
In a statement, the issued a reminder to foreign POGO workers that they must comply with the government-mandated deadline to leave the country by the end of the year or risk being deported and blacklisted.
According to the agency, a total of 21,757 foreign nationals associated with POGO operations had voluntarily downgraded their work visas to temporary visitors visas as of 7 November, with 10,821 of those having already left the country. It also noted that 12,106 foreign nationals who had not downgraded their visas had been issued cancellation orders in October.
This follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s announcement during his State of the Nation Address in July that he was banning all POGOs with immediate effect and giving them until 31 December 2024 to shut down all operations. An Executive Order making the ban official was issued in early November.
The BI said it “wants to ensure a smooth and orderly process for affected foreign workers, hence the reminder to meet the deadline. Affected individuals are advised to prepare all necessary travel arrangements promptly.”
RelatedPosts
