Baguio council thumbs down Loterya ng Bayan
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www.nordis.net
By LITO DAR/PIA CAR
BAGUIO CITY — In support to city government’s effort to cleanse the city of gambling, the City Council voted 10-4 in favor of a proposed resolution opposing the entry of ‘Loterya ng Bayan’ here.
According to Councilor Edison Bilog, the resolution’s proponent, the Loterya ng Bayan despite being a legal form of gambling, could not be allowed as it might end up as a front for illegal gambling activity such as ‘jueteng’ and may become a source of corruption in the city government.
Majority of the city councilors also opposed the guidelines set by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) that the Loterya ng Bayan franchisee does not need the confirmation or ratification of local government unit (LGU) to operate.
Various sectoral groups, supporting the council’s resolution, outlined moral issues in opposing the entry of Loterya ng Bayan in the city.
According to them, there is no assurance that legalized gambling will address the problem of poverty or the financial/economic issues of the Filipino people.
City’s Anti-illegal gambling group, Task Force Jupiter head and City Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Officer Evelyn Trinidad, in an interview, also stressed her support to the city council’s position. According to Trinidad, even with such PCSO guidelines, any Loterya ng Bayan franchisee or operator still needs a business permit from the local government where he plans to put up his establishment or business.
Trinidad also stressed that from the previously proposed Small Town Lottery, Loterya ng Bayan is not different – it is still a form of gambling that though legal in nature does not assure that it will address the problem of illegal gambling and may only add to the problem of promoting a gambling environment or society.
Trinidad also reminded the public that if there will be no bettors, then legal or illegal gambling will not survive.
This is why aside from monitoring and running after illegal gambling activities in the city, they are also focusing more on educating the public on the ill-effects of gambling. # nordis.net
