MANILA, Philippines – Siniguro ni Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto nitong Martes, Hulyo 22 na tutulungan ng ahensya ang mga empleyadong Pinoy ng Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) na mawawalan ng trabaho dahil sa POGO ban.
“We have until the end of the year to ensure that all displaced Filipino workers will have new jobs and I think that is more than enough time. The DOF will work closely with the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) to ensure that the workers’ incomes will not be severely disrupted and that we provide them with proper reskilling and upskilling training for new employment,” saad sa pahayag ni Recto.
Kamakailan ay nagpasa na umano si Recto ng cost-benefit analysis na nagrerekomenda sa pagbabawal ng POGO operations dahil sa reputational risks at social costs.
Sa pagtaya ng DOF, lumabas na ang net cost of Pogo operations ay nagkakahalaga ng P99.52 billion taon-taon habang ang estimated total economic benefits ay umaabot ng P166.49 billion kada taon.
Kabilang sa economic benefits ay ang account government revenues, katulad ng tax revenues mula sa Bureau of Internal Revenue (BlR) at gross gaming revenues mula sa PAGCOR.
Kabilang pa sa direktang benepisyo sa ekonomiya ay ang estimated income mula sa office at residential space rentals, transportation, at karagdagang demand para sa private consumption ng mga empleyado at kompanya.
Samantala, tinukoy ni Recto ang estimated total economic costs na nasa P265.74 billion taon-taon.
Kabilang naman dito ang “undesired effects” ng reputational risks na may epekto rin sa foreign direct investments.
Sa cost-benefit analysis ng DOF, nagdadala ng negatibong epekto sa attractiveness sa pagiging tourist destination ang bansa dahil sa mga POGO-related crime.
“As I have recommended to the President, Pogos come with significant reputational risks and we have seen the negative impacts and destruction they have caused to our country because of crimes. Banning them won’t significantly affect the economy because the costs of keeping them far outweigh the benefits,” ani Recto. RNT/JGC
