DOLE PREPARING FOR POSSIBLE POGO PHASEOUT

THE government is already in a state of “transition” to prepare the labor front for the possible phase out of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.

This was revealed by Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma during the press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday.

“Hindi ko siguro puwedeng sabihin sa iyo na reding-ready na kami. Pero pinaghahandaan namin. Ina-anticipate namin ang posibleng negative effect,” Laguesma told a reporter during an interview.

Laguesma was asked if DOLE is prepared in the event the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. decides to ban POGOs.

In response, the official said DOLE is already “profiling” to determine the number of employees to be affected by a POGO ban. This is because the government “cannot just wait for the day” that POGOs are stopped, he added.

Laguesma stressed: “Dapat nag-ta-transition na rin kami.”Laguesma further noted that DOLE is organizing job fairs, in coordination with the private sector and the Public Employment Service Officers (PESO), to bring employment opportunities, services, and programs for job seekers.