Finance Secretary Ralph Recto on Tuesday said that the revenues from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) were excluded in the review of the national budget for 2025.
Since the government’s earnings from POGOs are very minimal, Recto said it has no impact on the economy, and if there is, “it is just small.”
He said it is good for the country to totally prohibit POGO operations.
Earlier, Senator Loren Legarda questioned Recto if the income from POGO was included in the projected revenue for the National Expenditure Program (NEP) .
Legarda said that based on Recto’s statements, it was clear that the closure of POGO will have no adverse effects on our economy.
“In fact, it would even help in the country’s image, peace and order, national security and public protection.”
