The integrity of the Philippines’ investment promotion framework got a boost after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12312, or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, on Oct. 29.
Lawyer Gil Taway, president and chief executive officer of Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), in a statement Thursday thanked the President for signing the said measure, saying “this restores the integrity of our investment promotion framework and safeguards the Philippines from illicit activities associated with offshore gaming.”
“President Marcos’ institutionalization of the POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) ban validates the direction we have taken. It sends a strong message that economic zones must be sanctuaries for responsible investment, not safe havens for questionable operations,” he said.
In particular, Taway said APECO officials “support the law’s revocation of the authority previously granted to special economic zones, freeport authorities, and investment promotion agencies — including APECO — to issue licenses, permits, or accreditations to POGOs, their content providers and service providers.”
“Since assuming office in October 2023, the new APECO management has made it a priority to align APECO’s operations with this policy direction by ordering a comprehensive audit of all existing POGO-related entities within the zone.”
Taway said they have discovered and have since evicted a POGO entity from their site, previously located inside the APECO Administration Building, which housed the locators’ foreign workers.
He cited the importance of the law’s provision regarding the cancellation of a visa or work permit issued to individuals involved in POGO.
“The process of cleansing and reforming the zone was neither simple nor easy, but it was necessary. APECO has since redirected its focus toward developing the ecozone as a national defense hub, a clean energy center, the Fishing Capital of the Pacific, and the next frontier for sustainable tourism. We have opened our doors to sectors that would really create local jobs and promote long-term regional development,” he said.
PIA PHOTO