Manila extends general community quarantine until July 15

The Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, has announced that general community quarantine (GCQ) in Manila, including at the Entertainment City casino resort zone, will remain until July 15.

The Philippines.- Metro Manila will remain under the general community quarantine (GCQ) until July 15.

The current countermeasures were supposed to end on June 30, but authorities have decided to extend them. Casinos in Metro Manila were allowed to resume operating at a reduced capacity in May.

President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing for approval of Senate Bill 2232 under which Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) must pay 5 per cent tax on their gross gaming revenue.

POGOs brought in US$149.4m in tax payments last year despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting departure of many firms.

Senator Pia Cayetano, who sponsors the new bill said their potential was much bigger and that the government could have collected more than Php6.43bn (US$133.8m) in 2019 alone.

Philipines back on FATF “grey list”

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Paris-based inter-governmental agency that monitors controls on anti-money laundering and terrorist financing, has placed the Philippines back on its “grey list” of untrustworthy jurisdictions.

Despite new legislation in the Philippines, the FATF said the country needs to introduce more controls over risks associated with junket operators. 

The FATF previously grey-listed the Philippines in 2000 for failing to address money-laundering issues. The country was removed from the list in 2005 after amending legislation.

Inclusion on the FATF’s “grey list” could push up costs for business and increase regulatory scrutiny.