PCCI wants gov’t to prioritize peace and order over POGO revenues

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) would like the government to prioritize safety and peace and order over revenue consideration from the POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) industry.

This was the gist from PCCI officials’ pronouncements during a press conference for the upcoming 48TH Philippine Conference on the controversial POGO industry, which is being operated by Chinese businessmen and plagued with illegal activities such as kidnapping, unregistered firms, and illegal aliens.

“We should priority safety over revenue,” said PCCI President George T. Barcelon. He urged for the government to pay more attention on other industries such as manufacturing and agriculture. “We can focus to more legitimate investments,” he said.

Barcelon further noted that even the Chinese government already said its opposition against gambling. “I think we can read between the lines … so, I would go along the line for security and peace should take precedence over revenue,” he added.

PCCI Chairman William Co also noted on giving focus on “very small things” when there are other industries with huge revenue contributions for the government. Co cited mining, which has a big export potential and huge value added potential by further processing the minerals in the country.

“It is not just money value but also jobs creation,” Co said.

On the income, Co noted that the overseas Filipino workers, the biggest source of dollars, could increase their remittances by over $50 billion or P3 trillion in the next few years from the current over $32 billion as against the POGOs revenue contribution of only P6 billion and 23,000 workers.

“So don’t be worried about that, I am a positive thinker, we have a lot of resources — human resources, natural resources,” said Co.

On one hand, Barcelon and PCCI Treasurer Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. also cited the need to balance because of the immediate impact on real estate, residential, the hospitality sector and the food and restaurant businesses and other services for the POGOs.

But Ortiz-Luis said he is seeing a drift towards eliminating the POGO sector, starting with the illegal operators. “It is not sudden because it will affect the economy, but I agree that eventually they will go.”

On accepting POGO firms as members in local business organizations, Ortiz-Luis said there is no such PCCI policy against POGO. In fact, he said, there could be companies with POGO affiliates that are members of PCCI.