Palace assures: No return of Pogo-like issues in digital nomads entry

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro during a press briefing with the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) on March 3, 2025. | PHOTO: Screengrab from RTVM

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government will implement strict guidelines and monitoring in the entry of digital nomads into the country to ensure that it does not result in the same issues that arose from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) operations, Malacañang said Monday.

READ: Palace: Pogo ban major factor in PH exit from FATF gray list

This follows the issuance of Executive Order 86 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., allowing the grant of Philippine visa for digital nomads or foreign nationals seeking to temporarily reside and work remotely in the Philippines.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the move will boost the country’s economy and tourism.

“Definitely, if we will have more tourists, we will definitely have more income, and it will definitely also benefit the country and the Filipino people,” Castro said.

The Palace official assured the public that safeguards would be in place to address concerns that could arise from the initiative, including the possible influx of foreign nationals involved in criminal activities.

“We will be having monitoring. Unlike with the Pogos before, we will be securing, definitely, the processes regarding this,” Castro said.

“There will always be security features in order to protect our country from any scammers or any violations of the law.”

Marcos ordered a total ban on Pogos last year due to their links to crimes such as human trafficking, prostitution, and murder.

Castro also said that the government is currently drafting guidelines for the visa program, which will provide more details about the process.

Under the EO, the Department of Foreign Affairs is authorized to issue Digital Nomad Visas to non-immigrant foreigners “who desire to enter and/or stay in the country for a temporary period for the purpose of working remotely using digital technologies, and whose clients or employers are situated outside the Philippines.”