MANILA – The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has approved a PHP50 million grant to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to fund the ongoing deportation of foreign workers employed by illegal offshore gaming operators.
In a statement Tuesday, PAGCOR said a memorandum of agreement was signed on June 30 at the PAGCOR Executive Office in Pasay City to formalize the funding.
The amount will be released in two tranches of PHP25 million each.
The first tranche was disbursed during the ceremonial signing.
PAGCOR chairperson and chief executive officer Alejandro Tengco said the grant would help cover the repatriation expenses of illegal POGO workers currently held at the BI Warden Facility and Protection Unit.
“These individuals are unable to return to their home countries because they cannot afford a plane ticket. This grant will ensure they receive assistance in accordance with international laws and humanitarian considerations,” Tengco said.
“PAGCOR has been continuously collaborating with the BI in enforcing the government’s ban on offshore gaming operations, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive last year,” he added.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the country faces an increasingly complex security environment that requires a whole-of-government approach to uphold immigration laws.
“Fast-tracking the deportation cases of illegal POGO workers will help ensure a safer community for Filipinos. The BI’s partnership with PAGCOR is proof that our national government has the interest of the Filipinos at heart,” he said. (PNA)