POGOs warned...

registered with the tax agency.

Dominguez estimated that the government is losing at least 13 billion a month due to uncollected personal income taxes from foreigners working in the POGO industry.

For this reason revealed by the BIR, Pagcor said, “We require applicants for offshore gaming licenses submission of their company registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in view of the latter’s requirement for a Tax Identification Number.”

Since 2016, Pagcor has collected 111.9 billion from POGO operations in the country.

“In the Philippines, POGO operations is a big and multifaceted industry. For it to develop, it entails employment and necessitates other industries such as real estate, service as in food and transportation, construction, telecommunication, to name a few,” Pagcor said.

“While gaming operations fall within the ambit of the gaming industry thereby subjecting the same to pertinent regulatory bodies such as Pagcor, other components of operations fall under the jurisdiction of aforecited sectors making each component subjected to the regulation of each concerned government agencies,” it added.

Amid controversies the influx of foreign workers in the Philippines, Pagcor assured its commitment to “uphold the integrity of gaming in the country.”

Pagcor also said it is now coordinating with the government’s inter-agency efforts in regulating offshore gaming operations.

“Pagcor has always supported the government’s policy of equitable and progressive taxation, lawful employment, and promotion of public welfare,” it said.