MANILA – Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) clarified what it meant when it proposed to transfer Chinese online gaming workers in self-contained communities or hubs amid the backlash from the Chinese Embassy on Thursday.
“When we refer to POGO hubs as self-contained communities, what we mean is that these hubs will have all the basic needs of the foreign employees of POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations),” PAGCOR chairman Andrea Domingo said.
“Such as office and residential spaces, food establishments, wellness and recreational facilities, service shops and others,” Domingo said.
Chinese POGO workers need not be going to other places just for some of their needs with the proposal to transfer them in self-contained hubs.
The embassy said it “strongly urges the Philippine government to effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the Philippines.”
In an earlier interview with Cignal TV’s One News, PAGCOR vice president Jose Tria said the proposal was intended to limit their interactions with the locals who complain of unruly behavior of Chinese workers.
PAGCOR’s proposal is “in fact being established for the protection of the foreign workers,” Domingo said.
“Nonetheless, they are free to go anywhere they want to without any limitation on their personal rights or liberties,” she said.
Within the proposed “hubs” the Chinese workers are not exposed and prone to street crimes.
“They are assured of good working conditions and decent living quarters, and will be given their proper visas as there will also be other relevant government agencies setting up offices at the hubs,” Domingo said. (GMA News)
