Law enforcement agencies and PAGCOR met with the Clark Development Corporation in response to concerns about human trafficking and other issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
The Philippines.-\u00a0Clark Development Corporation (CDC)\u00a0<\/strong>held the first Clark Security Advisory Council Meeting\u00a0<\/strong>on June 9 to discuss concerns about human trafficking and other issues. The new body aims to strengthen coordination among law enforcement agencies and\u00a0the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation<\/strong>\u00a0(PAGCOR). The first meeting aimed to address crucial issues raised during a public hearing\u00a0regarding the future of POGO operations<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Agnes VST Devanadera<\/strong>, the president and CEO of CDC, expressed gratitude to partner agencies for their collaboration and emphasised the importance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to work together as one cohesive unit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following the Council meeting, Devanadera highlighted the agencies’ increased understanding of their respective mandates and the identification of areas for coordination and process streamlining to enhance efficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She also emphasised the necessity of robust coordination to effectively address security concerns. The meeting resulted in the review and recommendation of parameters for visa issuance, simplifying processes and tightening measures to prevent abuses.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n To formalise collaboration and ensure a unified approach, CDC will develop\u00a0a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)<\/strong>\u00a0among the participating agencies, enhancing the effectiveness of the Clark Security Advisory Council.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Devanadera expressed pride in the agencies’ dedication and ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and address violations related to the\u00a0Sun Valley Clark Hub Corporation<\/a>.\u00a0The CDC management recommended suspending the acceptance and processing of offshore gaming company applications until effective monitoring can be ensured.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the meeting, Jessa Fernandez<\/strong>, the assistant vice president for the Offshore Gaming and Licensing Department at PAGCOR, also revealed the regulator is currently undergoing a \u201cmajor business restructuring,\u201d which involves a review of the policies governing POGO operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n