VICE President Leni Robredo on Monday opposed proposals to allow Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) to resume their gambling operations as she underscored that they only contribute a minuscule amount to the economy.
“May katiwalian, malaki ang social cost (There’s corruption, the social cost is huge). In the Senate hearing, it was revealed that it only contributes .04 percent to domestic economy. Bakit natin sila uunahin na buksan kesa sa mga negosyo na ang empleyado ay mga Pilipino? (Why prioritize them over the re-opening of local businesses with Filipino employees?” Robredo told CNN Philippines.
ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap chair of the House committee on appropriations, earlier asked the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to allow POGOs to resume operations to help the government raise revenues to fund its anti-COVID measures.
Yap has said the suspension of POGO operations should be lifted immediately “to give our tax collection a much-needed boost.”
PAGCOR has explained that the suspension was implemented to ensure safety of all employees and to prevent further spread of the virus by limiting its workers’ movements.
Sen. Richard Gordon on Sunday echoed Yap and said POGOs should be allowed to resume to help generate additional income, especially following the statements of economic and budget executives that government is running low on funds for its social amelioration and anti-COVID programs.
Two days ago, at least 44 Chinese were arrested in a Parañaque City raid for defying the quarantine ban and for operating despite the suspended operations. Confiscated during the raid were five firearms and P1.3 million in cash, among others.
“Bakit natin sila bibigyan ng privilege na magbukas, at ang rason pa ay para makapagbigay ng pera na gagastusin para sa ekonomiya eh hindi naman ganun kalaki ang contribution nila sa domestic economy (Why give them the privilege to reopen purportedly to help the economic when their contribution to the domestic economy is not that big),” Robredo said.
