Business groups cheer Pogo ban

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The country’s largest business groups have backed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s move to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo), with efforts under way to help find jobs for Filipino workers who will be displaced by their departure.

“[The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)] has been working with the Department of Labor and Employment, the Private Sector Advisory Council, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines and industry associations on the Jobs project and we hope to help these displaced workers,” Enunina Mangio, president of the PCCI, said in a message sent to the Inquirer.

READ: Marcos bans Pogo, cites ‘disorder’ it caused PH

The private sector-led Project Jobs aims to give employment to 1 million people this year.

“We also hope our national and local government at the front line of business processing and licensing systems could further ease such processes to facilitate the entry of legitimate new investments and expansion of old ones,” Mangio added.

Positive response

For their part, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. president Cecilio Pedro said in a viber message that: “We are so positive with the Sona (State of the Nation Address) speech of [Marcos] especially with regards to the de-escalation of the tension in the West Philippine Sea and banning of Pogos by the end of the year.”

“These are very crucial issues that needed attention and decisions which were acted upon. We are very positive that the country will move forward in the coming days and look forward to a very positive year ahead of us,” he added.

Roberto Claudio, president of the Philippine Retailers Association, told the Inquirer that he found the President’s speech “very powerful,” citing that it gave a detailed description of the government’s programs that were achieved, as well as the future priorities of the administration.

Asked whether he thinks the Pogo shutdown will affect the retail industry, Claudio said he believes the move will have no impact on their sector.

“They bring in their food and supplies. They consume China-made products [brought] into the country in the same manner they bring their financial assets,” he said.

READ: Recto: Gov’t to help Filipino Pogo workers find new jobs

Meanwhile, Federation of Philippine Industries chair Jesus Arranza said that the President’s move to ban Pogos is the right move, noting that any economic contribution that the sector brings is outweighed by associated crimes.

“It’s (Pogos) a source of corruption, a source of all sorts of crime. It is outlawed in China and yet we are receiving them here,” Arranza said in a phone interview with the Inquirer.

He said that even the sector’s contribution to job generation is questionable, noting that the majority of Pogo workers are Chinese and are not Filipinos.

A least two foreign business chambers have expressed renewed optimism following the President’s Sona.

The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) noted that they had previously called on the president to support critical legislation that promotes inclusive growth through job generation, poverty reduction, and global competitiveness.

“We appreciate that today, the President highlighted the EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Reform Act) amendments to help boost energy security and economic development and CREATE MORE (Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy) to update the country’s investment incentive policies to strengthen competitiveness,” AmCHam said in a statement late Monday night.

“We also reiterate support for Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council priority measures such as the Konektadong Pinoy bill, which will expand internet connectivity and benefit the many digitalization efforts raised during the President’s speech.

AmCham is also backing the creation of a Department of Water Resources, which it said will address the country’s long-running water security and supply concerns.

New departments

Additionally, the business chamber noted airport governance reform bills, which it sees as crucial to improve the Philippines’ aviation and tourism sectors.

Meanwhile, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) said it appreciates what it described as a “comprehensive” and “forward-looking” Sona.

“The chamber recognizes the administration’s continued efforts to address critical issues and foster a thriving economic environment in the Philippines,” the ECCP said in a statement which it also released late Monday night.

“The ECCP is encouraged by the President’s emphasis on key priorities, including boosting the agriculture sector, advancing environmental protection and the fight against climate change, promoting industry growth, accelerating infrastructure development and digital transformation, advancing human capital development, promoting job generation, and ensuring social welfare and protection,” it added.