MANILA, Philippines — ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Eric Yap insisted his call for the resumption of operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, saying the P500 million revenue from the industry is “essential” to help in the government’s coronavirus response.
Yap, who chairs the House committee on appropriations, made the call after several lawmakers opposed his call for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to let POGOs operate amid the quarantine in the Luzon region.
“Ang POGO po, essential po siya hindi para sa mga Chinese. Essential po para sakin ‘yung P500 million na makokolekta ng Pagcor at maitutulong sa mga Pilipinong nagugutom,” Yap told INQUIRER.net over the phone.
(POGOs are essential not for the Chinese. What is essential for me is the P500 million that the Pagcor can collect which can help hungry Filipinos.)
Yap explained that POGO workers do not have to leave their homes as they will work under a work-from-home arrangement.
READ: Government looks into resumption of POGOs
To recall, Pagcor earlier temporarily suspended POGO operations in Luzon in compliance with the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“Ang akin po, ang reason bakit ko ine-encourage na mag-work from home—hindi po buksan yung offices nila—mag-work from home ‘yung mga POGO dahil ‘yung P500 million na kikitain na licensed tax na makukuha ng Pagcor,” Yap said.
(For me, the reason why I encourage the work from home scheme for POGOs—this means we are not opening their offices—is the P500 million revenues in licensed tax that will be collected by Pagcor.)
“Sayang po ‘yun dahil magagamit po yun sa pagtulong sa mga kababayan natin laban sa COVID-19,” the lawmaker added.
(We can use that to help our countrymen against COVID-19.)
One of those who opposed the proposal was Senator Francis Pangilinan who questioned why Chinese workers are seemingly being priority over Filipino workers during the pandemic.
“Masyado naman atang malakas ang kapit nitong mga Chinese na operators ng POGO sa matataas ng opsiyal ng Gobyernong Duterte at atat na atat itong unahin pa ang mga dayuhang Chinese na magkatrabaho ulit kaysa sa ating mga kababayan?” Pangilinan said in another tweet.
(It seems that Chinese operators of POGO have a strong connection to high-ranking officials of the Duterte administration that they are in a rush to accommodate first Chinese workers instead of our own countrymen.)
But Yap said that this was not his point in making the call, underscoring that his concern only lies in the projected revenues from the POGO industry.
“Ang akin po, P500 million po na sana magagamit ng mga kababayan natin na nagugutom,” Yap said.
(For me, we could use the P500 million for our countrymen who are going hungry.)
“Ngayon ang tanong naman dito, papaano ‘yung sinasabi na baka makahawa ng sakit? E naka-work from home po ang suggestion ko,” the lawmaker added.
(Now the question is on the possible spread of the disease? My suggestion is under a work-from-home scheme.)
Yap said he respects the point of view of those who opposed his proposal—which included House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr.
READ: Resumption of POGO operations opposed
Similar to BPOs
Yap likened his proposal to the state of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.
“Ngayon kung itatanong, essential po ba yan? Ang sagot ko po dito, same po ito sa BPO na pinayagan na mag-work from home,” Yap said.
(If the question is, is it essential? My answer would be that this is a similar case as that of the BPO industry which was allowed to operate under a work-from-home scheme.)
“Hindi po essential ang BPO pero nagiging essential ang BPO dahil doon sa mga taong mabibigyan ng trabaho—mga Pilipinong mabibigyan ng trabaho. Meron silang pera na magagamit pangkain, pambayad ng mga kailangan,” he added.
(BPOs are not essential but they were allowed to give Filipinos jobs so that they would have the money to buy their food and other needs.)
Yap said that he did not have any formal communication from Pagcor regarding his proposal.