Key points:
- Island Cove was one of the largest POGO operators, employing around 30,000 people at its peak
- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr announced plans earlier this year to close all POGO operations in the country
- Government agencies are trying to support workers who have been displaced or negatively affected
As part of a national initiative to cease all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has confirmed that all operations at Island Cove in Kawit, Cavite have been shut down.
This compliance order was granted in July 2024 by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr with plans to close all POGOs by the end of the year.
The building was formally closed by Alejandro Tengco, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO; Jonvic Remulla, Interior Secretary; Gilbert Cruz, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Executive Director Undersecretary; and Rommel Francisco Marbil, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief.
The hub in Cavite was the largest of its kind in the Phillippines. The compound featured 57 buildings across 33 hectares and employed 30,000 workers at its peak.
As well as POGO-related office space, the hub also included community buildings such as employee dormitories, gaming hubs, cafés, grocery stores, clinics, restaurants, spas and beauty salons.
Tengco said: “Anybody can now see that offshore gaming operations here have ceased completely. These companies have also coordinated with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to downgrade the employment visas of their workers, ensuring a smooth transition.”
Good to know: It’s expected that around 40,000 workers will be affected by the initiative to close down POGO operations nationwide, although DOLE and other agencies are providing support through livelihood packages, job caravans and zero-interest loans for displaced employees.
Island Cove was privately owned and operated by Oriental Gaming Corporation. Tengco noted that: “They have complied with the President’s directive, and there are no violations here.”
