MANILA — Economic managers of the Marcos administration welcomed the banning of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s pronouncement in his State of the Nation Address on Monday.

The president’s announcement came after POGOs were linked to various illegal activities.

Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual expressed support for Marcos’ directive.

“We’re very happy about the report of the President through the SONA and his final act of banning POGO,” Pascual said.

Pascual added that the POGO ban might attract investors, especially for tourism.

“It can make the country more attractive to those who are seeking leisure, for example, because POGO creates a bad impression, resulting in violence,” Pascual said. 

“Masyadong mysterious sa atin ang ginagawa ng POGO,” he added.

Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go believes current investment prospects will not be affected by the ban.

“I think there are many investments we are seeking, many foreign direct investments and none of them have anything to do with POGO,” Go said. 

Go added that the ban shows the Marcos administration means business and could work to the country’s advantage to gain more investments 

“When the country has better governance, better procedures. The business sector always looks for predictability, transparency, and good governance and this is a step towards that,” Go said.

Some business groups also welcomed the POGO ban.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Chairman George Barcelon said he supports the banning of POGO as it brings in more harm than good. 

PCCI President Enunina Mangio, in an earlier statement, said that POGOs pose immense social threats as they were exploited as breeding grounds for crime, scams, and human rights violations.

“This is the business that brings in the kind of people we don’t want. Yung moral fiber ng bansa natin delikado,” Barcelon told ABS-CBN News after the SONA.

Employers Confederation of the Philippines President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. told ANC that banning POGO was a popular decision and it was good that phaseout period was set, which is at the end of the year.

“Yung mga may license dapat iphase out and I think end of the year is a good phaseout,” said Ortiz-Luis.

Earlier, PCCI together with other business groups like Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, and many others, said that POGOs only contribute 0.2 percent to the country’s gross domestic product.

The groups urged government to help re-skill affected workers and ensure they will have new job opportunities.

Marcos: 'Effective today, all POGOs are banned'