Foreign workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have until October 15 to downgrade their working visas to temporary visitor visas.
Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval stressed on Thursday, October 10, that foreign POGO workers can still stay in the Philippines until December 31, 2024 as long as they voluntarily downgrade their visas.
If they fail to downgrade their visas by October 15, Sandoval warned that BI will cancel their working visas, and order their deportation.
"They are given 59 days para i-wind down yung affairs nila dito sa Pilipinas and they would have to leave the country within that 59 day-period," Sandoval explained during DZRH's Magandang Umaga Pilipinas.
"They can go as they please doon sa period na iyon, basta pasok doon sa period. Walang order to leave. They will not be blacklisted," she added.
Sandoval said that more than 10,000 foreign POGO workers have already downgraded their visas.
She also said that some foreign POGO workers decided to leave the Philippines after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned POGOs in the country.
