MANILA -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has commenced the process of profiling workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) who may be displaced in the coming days.

This comes in the wake of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s ban on POGOs during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday. 

"Ang profiling na ginagawa ng DOLE as of now is intended to really look at, ano ang kasalukuyang trabaho ng mga manggagawa sa IGLs [Internet Gaming Licensees]? Ano ang level ng kanilang sweldo tinitingnan din namin, at tinitingnan din namin ang preference nila, ano bang klase ang pwede nating maipagkaloob na trabaho?," said Labor Secretary Bienvenido "Benny" Laguesma.

POGOs and IGLs are the same, both banned: PAGCOR

According to Laguesma, there are 79 POGOs -- now also called IGLs -- operating nationwide, based on information received from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

He admits, however, that it is hard to ascertain how many are operating illegally.

The DOLE is also still in the process of collating the list of POGO workers. So far, initial lists have been submitted from the National Capital Region and Regions 4A and 3.

"In so far as the NCR is concerned, there is an estimate of more or less 15,000 workers representing submissions made by 34 IGLs," said Laguesma. "As far as the Region 4A is concerned, the initial na report pa rin of the number, and this covers the Laguna and Cavite area, more or less 5,000 workers."

"In so far as the region 3 is concerned which is Central Luzon, ang sabi ng report ng regional director diyan ay isa na lang ang IGL. Pero may mga related siguro na mga trabaho or negosyo na dapat ay i-consider namin dun sa pagbabalangkas namin ng plan of action," he added.

On top of the DOLE’s plan of action is finding new employment for the POGO workers. The department is looking to tap the help of the IT-BPO sector and several other industries.

"Malaking bahagi don ay nandodoon sa mga encoders, mga encoders. So ibig sabihin, pwede talagang i-link up sa ating IT-BPO management sector," Laguesma said. "Hindi lang naman sa IT. Kasi may mga manggagawa na maaapektuhan, ang trabaho nila administrative, HR, at meron din yung mga utilities and maintenance."

Laguesma assured that DOLE will also assist all POGO workers in claiming their benefits and the availment of unemployment insurance from the Social Security System (SSS). The DOLE will also offer other programs that may help displaced workers, depending on their needs and according to their personal circumstances.

"May mga programa naman ang Department of Labor and Employment in place to help either temporarily, sa pamamagitan ng aming programa na ang pangalan ay TUPAD, pwede rin naman kami sa livelihood, yung jobs fair na nabanggit ko kanina which we will be doing especially for this purpose," he said.

The DOLE is also planning to mount more job fairs to offer jobs alternatives, not just to workers that will be affected by the POGO ban, but also to other displaced workers, the unemployed and underemployed.

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