#Philippines #POGO
Back in 2021, Senator Pia Cayetano led the push for legislation requiring POGOs — or Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators — to pay proper taxes. This move sparked controversy, with many Filipinos criticizing her for appearing to support POGOs. Despite the backlash, Cayetano still managed to secure the 9th spot in the midterm elections — a result that left many citizens frustrated and disappointed.
Now, there’s growing speculation that POGOs might be allowed to return to the country — but this time, under stricter tax regulations. For some, this opens up a glimmer of hope. After all, the ban on POGOs under President Marcos led to thousands of job losses, especially among Filipinos employed in the industry.
And so, the question remains: Should the government allow the return of POGOs in exchange for higher tax revenues?
Many are still divided — but one thing is clear: the conversation around POGOs is far from over.
翻译:早在2021年,参议员皮娅·卡耶塔诺就曾带头推动一项立法,要求菲律宾离岸博彩运营商(POGO)缴纳应有的税款。此举引发了争议,许多菲律宾人批评她似乎在支持POGO。尽管遭到强烈反对,卡耶塔诺仍然在中期选举中获得了第九名——这一结果令许多公民感到沮丧和失望。
现在,越来越多的猜测认为,POGO可能会被允许回归菲律宾——但这一次,税收法规将更加严格。对一些人来说,这带来了一线希望。毕竟,在马科斯总统执政期间,对POGO的禁令导致数千人失业,尤其是在该行业工作的菲律宾人。
因此,问题依然存在:政府是否应该允许POGO回归,以换取更高的税收收入?
许多人对此意见不一——但有一点是明确的:围绕POGO的讨论远未结束。