POGOS are BPOs, palace insists
Malacañang maintains its claim that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) are part of the BPO industry, even after the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) has disassociated itself from POGOs.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque argues that POGOs are considered BPOs because they render services for activities outside the Philippines. Roque also noted that it’s not for IBPAP to say that POGOs are not BPOs, because “we are following a definition of POGOs that are consistent with the guidelines, especially of those granting tax incentives.”
However, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) director general Charito Plaza has previously said that online gaming is not included in the agency’s list of BPOs.
