Makati cancelled new licences to POGO

The idea of local government is to stop with criminal activity, prostitution and avoid the rising of the commercial property marketing

Philippines.- The Mayor of Makati, Abby Binay, announced on Sunday that the Manila business district wont give new licenses to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). The idea of local government is to stop with criminal activity, prostitution and avoid the rising of the commercial property marketing.

“We would no longer accept new applications for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators service providers and crack down hard against illegal activities that are catering to POGOs and their employees within Makati,” said the statement published.

Makati city is currently the base for around three hundred POGO service providers that employ thousands of workers, mostly Chinese nationals. The decision means that they will stop giving business permits but the ones that are already operating will be allowed to continue working.

One of the most important reasons is the rising of crime. In the last days, there was a seizure of Php2.5 billion (US$49 million) worth of drugs in an apartment being rented by a Chinese national. 

Same happens with prostitution: two businesses being run by POGO service providers were closed after they found there where use that were being used as a front for prostitution. Police rescued 35 women who are believed to be sex workers.