POGO workers face mid-October deadline for visa downgrades: Govt

Foreign workers employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) have until October 15 to voluntarily downgrade their work visas.

The requirement was confirmed by the local Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday. BI officer in charge Joel Anthony Viado emphasized that the deadline would not be extended and urged workers to act promptly.
Viado pointed out that the 59-day grace period after October 15th aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive for foreign POGO workers to leave the Philippines by the end of the year. The BI has committed to speeding up the visa downgrading process for POGO employees to facilitate their departure.
"We will ensure the President's orders are carried out efficiently and without delay," Viado stated.
The announcement came during a briefing with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) officials and representatives from POGO companies. Downgrading work visas allows foreign nationals to switch their status from a work visa to a temporary visitor visa, providing them with a 59-day window to settle their affairs legally within the country.
In response to the government's push to shut down POGO operations, a multi-agency task force was formed. This group includes the BI, Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), PAGCOR, Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
The BI and PAGCOR also met with POGO company representatives on Monday to further coordinate the visa downgrading process. Viado explained that the BI might hold "implementation days" for POGO firms, where the downgraded visa status and exit clearances could be issued immediately.
Foreign workers who do not depart the Philippines by December 31st, 2024, will face deportation proceedings and be blacklisted from re-entering the country.

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