MANILA -- Almost 27,000 workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO)/Internet Gaming Licensees (IGL) have been profiled, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Wednesday. 

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said in a press conference that profiling in the National Capital Region is almost complete, with 54 IGLs already profiled. Out of the estimated 40,000 workers affected by the ban, 26,996 IGL workers have been profiled by DOLE.

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“Meron kasing mga kumpanya na hindi nagsa-submit ng listahan kaya pinuntahan na sila para ipaliwanag sa kanila why we are requesting so appropriate interventions can be provided,” Laguesma said.

(Some companies didn't submit their lists, so we went to them to explain why we are requesting this so appropriate interventions can be provided.)

IGLs profiled are from Region 4A, Region 7, and mostly from the National Capital Region. Laguesma said legal POGO companies under IGL are still in operation. 

“‘Yong mga involved sa gaming, by the end of this year dapat sarado na ang operation,” Laguesma said. 

(Those involved in gaming should have stopped operations by the end of this year.)

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To help Filipino POGO workers to be displaced by the ban, DOLE is organizing a job fair with a specialized focus on the sector by the first week of October.

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Aside from employment facilitation and referral to job vacancies, the labor department is also planning to assist displaced workers to livelihood opportunities and upskilling.

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