INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The city of Valenzuela passed landmark ordinances prohibiting Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) and other gaming within its jurisdiction, said Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian on Tuesday.
According to Gatchalian, three separate ordinances were passed to ban Pogos and other forms of gambling.
“Hindi lang isang ordinance ang ating pinasa at pinopromote, kundi tatlong ordinance, (we not only passed one but three ordinances) first is Ordinance No. 1105, disallowing Pogo operations within the territorial jurisdiction of Valenzuela City,” said Gatchalian in a press conference.
The other city injunctions were Ordinance 2023-093, which temporarily disallows new applications for small-town lotteries and online gambling, and Ordinance 2023-092, which bans all forms of illegal gambling in the entire city.
“Here in Valenzuela, regardless of what programs, we always put into consideration the social and moral impact in the community,” said Gatchalian.
Several lawmakers have consistently called for banning POGOs in the country, as its revenue does not justify the crimes that come with its presence.
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said that the Philippines should already let go of POGOs, citing its “social cost and reputational risk.”
However, POGO workers’ associations have warned that over 23,000 Filipinos would lose “decent and well-paying jobs,” if the government decides to shut down POGOs.