Special Class BPOs safe amid POGO shutdown, Philippine senator says    

As the Philippines moves to shut down all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) by the end of the year, Senator Mark Villar has assured employees of Special Class Business Process Outsourcing (SCBPOs) that they will not be affected by this decision.   

Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, recently conducted an inspection of two SCBPOs in Aseana, Parañaque City, alongside Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, to better understand their operations and distinguish them from POGOs.  

Villar said inspections are being done to see the operations of SCBPOs and understand how they differ from the POGOs that will be closed before the end of the year. The senator emphasised the need to understand the operational differences between SCBPOs and POGOs.  

Job security for SCBPO workers  

Villar further reassured employees of SCBPOs, stating that they would not be affected by the POGO shutdown, ensuring job security for thousands of Filipinos working in the sector. According to government data, about 5,000 Filipinos currently employed by SCBPOs.   “In the next hearings in the Senate, our SCBPO workers are assured that they will not be among those who will be shut down before the end of the year,” Villar said in Filipino.  

PAGCOR’s role in SCBPO accreditation  

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) plays a role in legitimising SCBPOs by granting them accreditation. As of August 7, several SCBPOs have been either provisionally or fully accredited. Regularly accredited companies include Amused Group Philippines Inc. and Novatech (Pasay) Limited, while others like Concentrix Global Services Inc. hold provisional accreditation. PAGCOR chairperson Alejandro Tengco highlighted the significant difference between SCBPOs and POGOs, noting that SCBPOs do not engage in betting activities.    

POGO ban and its broader implications  

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the total ban on POGOs during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July, citing the industry’s involvement in criminal activities such as scamming and money laundering.    

Meanwhile, Gatchalian emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to the POGO shutdown, noting that illegal operators still exist. He urged authorities to target these operations to ensure the President’s directive is fully enforced.