We welcome President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s signing of the Republic Act No. 12312, or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025. This law institutionalizes the nationwide ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

In particular, we 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.

What we found is a POGO locator operating not only within our ecozone but also inside the APECO Administration Building. Facilities originally registered for tourism purposes were being used as housing for POGO workers, many of whom were foreign nationals.

When President Marcos Jr. announced to ban POGOs across the country during his State of the Nation Address in 2024, APECO acted promptly to phase out the lone POGO locator operating in the zone.

Likewise, the APECO management welcomes the cancellation of work permits and visas related to POGO activities under the new law. With the enactment of the Anti-POGO Act, any visa or work permit issued to persons engaged in offshore gaming and related activities is now deemed withdrawn.

Under our charter, APECO is authorized to issue Investor’s Visas to foreign nationals who will invest at least USD150,000 in the Casiguran-based ecozone and would meet the entry requirements.

However, on November 3, 2023, the new management temporarily suspended visa issuances to allow a full review of all previously issued visas and work permits, and in July 2024, the APECO Board approved the Revised Report and Recommendation on Visa Operations which, among other things, directed the cancellation of Resident Visas.

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.

We thank our President Marcos Jr. and our lawmakers for advancing this reform. 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 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.

Under this new governance framework, APECO will continue to embody accountability, lawful enterprise, and inclusive growth.