POGO taxes down P1.55Bn in Q1
Taxes collected from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) dropped to P1.55 billion (US$27.7 million) during the first quarter of 2022.
According to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Lilia Catris Guillermo, the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary restraining order, and the gambling crackdown of the Chinese government contributed to the decline in taxes collected.
However, Senator Nancy Binay questioned the low figures, given that the 2022 projection presented for the POGO tax Law is at P32 billion (US$572 million).
She added that reaching this target is important because the taxes collected will be used for the Universal Healthcare for Facilities Enhancement Fund.
In response, Guillermo said that the tax collection is currently “picking up” as POGOs started coming back to the country.
