Manila: 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.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lawyer Gil Taway, president and chief executive officer of Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), expressed gratitude to the President for signing the measure. He noted that it restores the integrity of the investment promotion framework and protects the Philippines from activities linked to offshore gaming.

President Marcos’ decision to institutionalize the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) was seen as a validation of the current direction, emphasizing that economic zones should be places for responsible investment rather than areas for questionable operations.

Taway highlighted that 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 taking office in October 2023, the new APECO management has prioritized aligning the zone’s operations with this policy by conducting a comprehensive audit of all POGO-related entities within the zone. They discovered and evicted a POGO entity from their site, which was previously located inside the APECO Administration Building.

He also noted the law’s provision regarding the cancellation of visas or work permits issued to individuals involved in POGO. Taway explained that the process of reforming the zone was necessary and has since shifted its focus toward developing the ecozone as a national defense hub, clean energy center, fishing capital, and a frontier for sustainable tourism, aiming to create local jobs and promote long-term regional development.