Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 5) — Valenzuela Mayor Wes Gatchalian said the potential revenue the local government can earn if Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) were allowed to operate in the city is not as important as making sure that his stakeholders are protected from the impact of such businesses.
“The moral and social costs outweigh the possible revenue that will come in the city,” Gatchalian told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Wednesday.
“Ang mas wino-worry ko is the culture of gambling,” he also said. “Ayaw na ayaw kong malulong ang mga kabataan.”
[Translation: What worries me more is the culture of gambling. I really do not want the youth to get addicted to it.]
The Gatchalian family has stakes in Waterfront hotels and casinos in the country.
Valenzuela recently passed three ordinances, including Ordinance No. 1105 that bans POGOs in the city.
The local chief executive noted that the city has a revenue of about ₱5 billion, which he said is enough for its government to function and to implement programs that will help legal businesses in the city.
He did not provide an estimate of how much POGOs can inject to local funds.
Gatchalian also pointed out that banning POGOs will prevent crimes related to them from happening, like kidnapping and torture.
Aside from this, ordinances on temporarily disallowing new applications of Small Town Lottery (STL), E-games, E-sabong, E-bingo, online poker, and another on prohibiting illegal gambling were also put in place.
He earlier said that the ordinances were implemented as precautionary measures.
The mayor clarified that POGOs and other gambling activities do not exist in his city, except for STL that currently has nine registered operators.
Gatchalian said only STL is allowed to operate and any new and pending applications for STL will not be processed.
An existing task force, which was formed for tax purposes and to ensure compliance to city policies, will be also assigned to check establishments across Valenzuela to ensure that there are no illegal operators, he also said.
