BUREAU of Local Employment (BLE) Director Patrick Patriwirawan Jr. yesterday said their updated numbers place the number of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) workers at risk of becoming jobless at 79,735 once the offshore gaming industry is shutdown.

In a televised public briefing, Patriwirawan said: “The grand total of workers to be displaced has reached 79,735 based on the data submitted by Pagcor.”

He said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is “prioritizing” the profiling of Filipino workers, which is placed at 40,962.

Of the local workers, Patriwirawan said 27,747 POGO employees have been completely profiled. A large majority, or 19,754, of these are based in the National Capital Region, followed by 7,837 in the Calabarzon, 142 in Central Luzon, and 14 in Central Visayas.

“Our regional offices are continuously sending reports (of profiling),” he added.

He said Filipinos usually work as administrative staff, secretary, desk officer, office staff, and encoders in POGOs. They earn between P16,000 to P22,000 in monthly salary.

Patriwirawan said 38,773 foreign nationals are set to be displaced once the POGO ban is fully implemented by the end of the year.

Patriwirawan said the DOLE is in deep preparations for the scheduled special job fair for POGO workers set next month at the Ayala Mall Manila Bay in Parañaque City.

“We already have about 70 participating employers and will offer job vacancies,” he said, adding that jobs set to be offered are in the business process outsourcing, information technology, hospitality, tourism, general services, and wholesale and retail sectors.