Influx of Chinese workers come to the Philippines not for jobs from some Philippine private companies, but to work most probably in some online gaming or online casino in the so called Philippine Offshore Gambling Operator (POGO). Most online gaming dealt with Chinese who can read and speak only in their language. That is why Filipinos are not preferred to be POGO workers.
Online gaming (POGO) in the Philippines
In late 2016, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) issued 35 offshore gaming licenses and made over 1 billion pesos in licensing and processing fees.
In just first six months of 2017, online gaming has taken up 83,960 square meters of office space, most of which are centered in areas like Alabang and Bonifacio Global City (BGC).
POGOs’ accounted for 25% or 180,000 square meters of total office space deals in Manila from first six months of 2018, according to property tracker Colliers.
Of the 7.1 million tourist arrivals in the Philippines last year, the Chinese account for 1.2 million, second to South Koreans.
Why POGO choose Philippines?
Because online gambling is illegal in China. The Closest and cheapest alternative destination is the Philippines, where online gaming and gambling is legal and now regulated by PAGCOR.
Yet the Philippines government should be alarmed that there are also some illegal POGOs’ operating in the Philippines. Also there are several Chinese working in the Philippines illegally. They entered the country as tourists , yet they do business or work in the Philippines without proper permits such as Alien Employment Permit (AEP) from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) or a Special Permit from Bureau of Immigration (BI). These illegal workers may impose National security threat as we do not know their real purpose of why they are here in Philippines.
BI nowadays has its campaign against illegal foreign workers. BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval clarified in one of her statement that her bureau is not singling out a particular nationality; she noted that “illegal foreign workers are arrested regardless of their race.”
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. see influx of undocumented Chinese Nationals a possible security threat saying that Philippine government does not know their intentions or activities inside the country.
Should Filipinos be worried?
We should not be afraid that Chinese might take job opportunities from our fellow Filipino, because DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III maintained that Filipinos should be the priority for available jobs in the Philippines.
One thing that Philippine government must be afraid of is losing some potential Filipino workers who seek job in other country because of low salary and less descent job opportunities in the Philippines.