Operations to stop by end of the year
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country and wants their operations to cease by the end of year.
The President, in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), said he has heard the people’s call against POGOs which he said have disguised as legitimate entities and have ventured into “illicit areas furthest from gaming such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder.”
“The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop… Effective today, all POGOs are banned,” Marcos said, getting cheers, applause, and a standing ovation.
He directed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to start winding down and cease POGO operations by the end of the year. He also instructed the Department of Labor and Employment to coordinate with his economic managers to help those to be displaced by the closure find new jobs.
“It will solve many of the problems that we have been encountering, but it will not solve all of them. To solve all the problems… all officials, law enforcers, workers in government, and most of all the citizenry, must always be vigilant, principled and think of the health of the nation,” he said.
Calls for the ban on POGOs have been mounting amid reports of illegal activities such as scam operations, and cases of torture and harassment.
Several government agencies have supported the call for a total POGO ban.
Under the previous administration, there have also been calls for a POGO ban but then President Rodrigo Duterte said he had to consider some factors, including the economic impact and income that would be lost.
The President reiterated the Philippines “cannot yield” and “cannot waver” in its defense of its territory amid rising tension with China over the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the South China Sea.
He said the country would continue to find ways to de-escalate tension in contested areas without compromising the Philippines’ position and principles.
“In the face of challenges to our territorial sovereignty, we will assert our rights and interests in the same fair and pacific way that we have always done. Proper diplomatic channels and mechanisms under the rules-based international order remain the only acceptable means of settling disputes. Peace and community-building will always be our clarion call,” he said.
He said as the Filipinos have been becoming more conscious of developments, the government must also further heighten the awareness about the country’s aerial and maritime domain, as he emphasized that the WPS is not just a product of the country’s imagination.
“The West Philippine Sea is not merely a product of our imagination. This is ours. And this will remain ours as long as the spirit of our beloved country remains alive,” he said in mixed English and Filipino.
Marcos reiterated the government continues to strengthen its defense posture, both through developing self-reliance and through partnerships with other like-minded countries.
He also lauded and expressed his gratitude to the Armed Forces, the Philippine Coast Guard, and fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea for their sacrifices and continued presence in the area.
WAR VS ILLEGAL DRUGS
The President recognized the achievements of his administration in its “bloodless war on dangerous drugs.”
Marcos said “extermination” was never part of his administration’s campaign, and it will continue to be that way.
He said the drive has already resulted in over 71,500 operations that yielded at least P44 billion worth of seized illegal drugs, and in the arrest of about 97,000 drug personalities, including about 6,000 high-value targets, 440 government employees which include 42 uniformed personnel, and 77 elected officials.
The President said the government had also frozen more than P500 million worth of assets of those involved in illegal drugs.
“With strong case build-up and efficient prosecution, the drug conviction rate is at a high of 79 percent,” he added.
Marcos said drug-affected barangays in the country are also now down to 32 percent.
INFLATION, SOCIAL SERVICES
Marcos said while the Philippines has been proudly bannered as among the best performing countries in Asia, the Filipinos are still faced with issues such as high rice prices of P45 to P65 a kilo.
He acknowledged that while the Philippines harvested around 20 million tons of palay last year, it still needs to import rice to secure the country’s supply.
He said the government continues to do its best to address this by promoting food security and improving the agriculture industry, and its efforts to cushion the impact of inflation on Filipinos.
Marcos said the government’s campaign against smuggling is relentless, highlighting the P2.7 billion worth of smuggled agriculture and fishery products that were seized and later distributed to the poorest Filipinos.
He said infrastructure projects are also being expedited, including some 1,200 kms of farm-to-market roads that would be constructed by the end of the year nationwide, the irrigation of 45,000 hectares of new agricultural land this year, along with the restoration of irrigation to almost 39,000 hectares of land.
The President said the government is also pushing for more solar-powered irrigation systems in the country which would contribute to water supply and the country’s power needs.
Marcos said his administration is also pushing for the digitalization and use of solar-powered electricity in many public schools in the country.
He said this should “become the standard feature in our schools and our classrooms.”
Marcos also vowed to provide more benefits for public school teachers from the higher teaching allowances to personal accident insurance, and to an expanded career progression system which would promote better career opportunities for teachers.
