COUNCILORS in Quezon City are seeking the views of their constituents on the proposed measure of responsible gambling and whether the guidelines they have set are fit for the purpose.
In a July 17 letter, District 4 Councilor Ivy Xenia Lagman requested City Planning and Development officer in charge Pedro Rodriguez through Jonathan Africa, project development officer 5 of the Subdivision Administration Unit, to invite the leaders of the city’s homeowners’ associations from Districts 1, 3 and 4, and those from Districts 2, 5 and 6.
They would take part in separate public consultations on July 20 and July 21, respectively, to discuss the provisions of “An Ordinance Regulating the Operation of Games of Chance within the Territorial Jurisdiction of Quezon City for Responsible Gambling and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof,” or the proposed responsible gambling ordinance.
“Matters pertaining to the proposed ordinance will be discussed. Thus, the homeowners’ associations’ inputs regarding the same will be very valuable for the committee [on games and amusement] to further strengthen the provisions and enforcement of the ordinance,” Lagman’s letter read.
On July 18, Rodriguez sent various homeowners associations a communication letter, telling them “your attendance to the public hearing will be much appreciated.”
“Despite the city-wide invitation, I think only two of the homeowners’ associations managed to participate,” Rodriguez told the Manila Standard. “Over 100 invitation letters were issued and sent.”
The council’s games and amusement committee is also trying to reach out to the operators of electronic games, bingo, carnivals, casino, off-track betting stations, cockfighting and other gambling establishments for another public hearing.
A prelate, retired archbishop Oscar Cruz of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said church leaders would reject any invitation to participate public hearings on Quezon City’s proposed responsible gambling ordinance.
“The bishops will not come despite the invitation. Why is this so? They will only be used. Their attendance will be made to appear that they have been consulted, and that everything went well,” he told a dzMM radio interview.
Lagman, and Councilors Franz Pumaren (District 3), Raquel Malangen and Marvin Rillo (District 4), and Godofredo Liban II (District 2) co-authored the responsible gambling ordinance.
Lagman earlier told the Manila Standard that information reached them that there was a plan to build a casino facility, but no formal document had been submitted to the city government.
She said they were just readying the regulations on games of chances, including the operation of casino.
Along with District 2 Councilor Roderick Paulate, Lagman said the welfare of the people was important consideration.
Casino mogul Enrique Razon, Bloomberry Resorts Corp. chairman and founder, is planning to build a P20-billion ($418-million) hotel and casino that will rise in a P1.9-billion, 15,676-square meter lot on Vertis North, Agham Road, Quezon City that may start mid-2018 and could be finished in 2019.