DILG directs LGUs to submit ‘No POGO’ certificates end of January

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

Remulla noted that POGOs operate where there is available bandwidth. (PNA file photo by Robert Alfiler)

MANILA – Local governments and police have been given the green light to inspect commercial buildings covered by business permits as well as residences in their jurisdiction to check for compliance with the government’s total ban on POGOs (Philippine Overseas Gaming Operations), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Justice officials, DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said local government units (LGUs) are required to submit “No POGO” certificates in their localities by the end of the month.

“LGUs are responsible for checking all the buildings, (and utilize) the occupancy permits, the electric permits, the fire safety permits so they would have full capacity to enter all the buildings,” Remulla explained.

Aside from commercial and residential building inspections, LGUs may also check if owners are paying correct real property taxes.

Remulla noted that POGOs operate where there is available bandwidth.

“They cannot operate in remote areas because there would be no Internet there. They have a high bandwidth requirement to be able to operate,” he said.

Remulla also clarified that special economic zone areas or SEZAs are not exempt from the ban under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order No. 74.

“It is very clear that with EO 74, CEZA, PEZA zones are not exempted. We have no boundaries. There are no walls high for us to climb. All these areas, we can inspect,” he said.

“The government’s anti-POGO campaign is an ongoing thing, (it’s) forever. We will continue to be vigilant about it,” Remulla stressed.

He added that the DILG will enforce a “zero tolerance” policy on erring local government officials in the campaign against POGOs.

“If you commit a mistake, pasensyahan tayo (you’ve been warned),” Remulla said.

Meanwhile, Remulla said the 11,000 foreign POGO workers that remained unaccounted for will be the subject of a manhunt by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), while those involved in illegal activities will be pursued by police.