BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) will conduct a public hearing to determine the legality of Small Town Lottery (STL) operations in the city.
During the SP’s recent session, it was agreed that the committees on ways and means, and laws, ordinances, and good government will lead the inquiry, according to Councilor Dindo Ramos.
This comes amid differing opinions between the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and the SP regarding the STL’s operations.
Ramos said STL bets are openly being collected in the city, yet no business permit has been issued to the operator and no revenues are being remitted to the city government.
He argued that the operation is illegal, stressing that STL operators must first secure authority from the local chief executive and a resolution of no objection (RONO) from the SP.
“They must also secure a business permit so the city can generate revenues,” Ramos added, noting that more than 50 percent of STL collections in Negros Occidental reportedly come from Bacolod.
“Sa Bacolod naga-operate, pero ang Bacolod wala naga-income,” he added.
For his part, BCPO director Colonel Joeresty Coronica said the STL operation is “legal for now.” He explained that operators presented them with documents granting authority to operate, which justified their presence.
However, Coronica clarified that the BCPO has sought comments from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the operator to confirm the legality of the STL operation.
Because of the conflicting positions, Ramos said the SP has decided to convene as a Committee of the Whole to investigate the matter.
The SP will invite representatives from the PCSO, the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), the City Legal Office, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to shed light on the issue.
Ramos stressed the need for an in-depth discussion on the legal status, regulatory compliance, and enforcement issues surrounding STL operations in Bacolod.
The SP, he said, recognizes the importance of transparency, accountability, and inter-agency collaboration to ensure that if STL operations are permitted, they are conducted strictly in accordance with the law./PN
