MANILA, Philippines — Although the licenses given for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) will be revoked by December 15, its nationwide closure won’t make a dent in the country’s economy, Interior Secretary Johnvic Remulla said.

In a Malacañang press briefing, Remulla said that the closure won’t have a significant impact on the economy citing a report from National Economic and Development Authority saying only .25 of 1 percent of total gross domestic product will be affected in the country.

“I think ma-make up naman ‘yan sa mga iba pang mga revenue enhancing measures ng Department of Finance,” he said.

According to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) the government is expected to lose at least P20 billion annually with the shutdown of POGOs.

In the same briefing, Pagcor Chairman Alejandro Tengco said that licenses of remaining POGOs will be revoked by December 15.

Tengco said there will be no renewal of permits for POGO hubs starting January 1 next year.

“Kung mayroon pa diyang nagsasabi na sila ay nagpapatuloy na maghanapbuhay o [magconduct] ng operation dahil mayroon silang valid PAGCOR license, hindi po totoo ‘yun,” he said.

PAGCOR has yet to shutdown 60 gaming hubs but claimed following the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ban POGO operations in the country, this is far from over 300 POGOs and internet gaming licenses that were issued by the gaming bureau prior to the announcement.

To date, there were only seven POGOs with active PAGCOR licenses, he said.

Marcos issued Executive Order No. 74 last month implementing the immediate ban on POGOs in the country, following his announcement of its shutdown during his state of the nation address.

Some 187 illegal Chinese workers of POGOs have recently been deported by the Bureau of Immigration.

They were initially arrested during a raid in Pasay and Cebu this year.