[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Aklan SP: Small Town Lottery ‘pernicious’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY BOY RYAN ZABAL
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=”]
Saturday, April 8, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_image src=’http://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/region-stl-ak-sp.jpg’ attachment=’102612′ attachment_size=’full’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=’yes’ font_size=” appearance=’on-hover’ overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’]
Small Town Lottery can no longer work against illegal numbers games because there are no longer such games in Aklan, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan claimed. BOY RYAN ZABAL
[/av_image]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
KALIBO, Aklan – Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) members pulled no punches in criticizing the operation of Small Town Lottery (STL) in Aklan.
“STL has a pernicious and detrimental effect [on] the moral, familial and financial well-being of Aklanons,” the SP said in a resolution.
Expanded operations of the STL, a numbers game sanctioned by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), in the province started on March 31.
The PCSO awarded the franchise to Yetbo Gaming Philippines Corp. on Jan. 11. Daily draws are held every 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the company’s main office on N. Roldan Street, Barangay Poblacion.
The STL aims to force out of business the operators of illegal numbers games.
But “illegal [numbers] games, such as jueteng and masiao, have not been in the province for quite a long time now,” the SP said.
“PCSO approved and authorized the STL operation sans prior and proper consultation with all local government units and their constituencies,” the Provincial Board said, noting that it has consistently rejected the STL since 2006.
The STL is “inimical to the economic, social and moral dispensation of the people because of its pervasive, intrusive and wide scope,” the SP said. “Bettors are approached by STL ‘sales representatives’ in their homes, workplaces and even inside school campuses.”
The SP passed the resolution on April 3. Esel Flores, Nemesio Neron and Teddy Tupas of the games and amusements committee sponsored it.
The Diocese of Kalibo and several business groups in Aklan are also against the STL.
On March 19 Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc issued a pastoral letter urging the faithful and the laity to unite in opposing gambling, whether legal or not.
Through the STL, the PCSO expects to collect more revenues to fund charity and medical services for local governments. (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
