STL off limits to Iloilo towns
An advance warning has now been issued by a top Iloilo provincial official on the imminent operations of the government's Small Town Lottery (STL). With the franchise pushed in Iloilo City and city residents' pulse now gathered through public hearings, Board Member Domingo Oso said it must now be cleared and clarified that all and any related STL activities are off limits to the province.
As such, special attention will be given to nearby Iloilo towns once STL goes full blast in its operations with arrests assured on both agents and bettors. This, Board Member Oso explained is backed by last month's resolution of the Iloilo Provincial Board that unanimously manifested its objection on STL. And if needed, Oso added, support will be extended to church-backed anti-STL initiatives such as protest rallies.
If they have to march on the streets, he continued, "then so be it. We will be there."
Oso stands to be the principal proponent against planned comeback of STL saying that as far as the Provincial Board is concerned, the province has no place for such "illegal numbers game."
"We will make proper representations to the respective local chief executives on this matter," he said while acknowledging the potential problem once STL activities begin in Iloilo City. "If the city wants it, then fine but again, we stand by our unanimous resolution against it. As far as we are concerned, that is gambling and illegal numbers game at that."
Meantime hundreds of city residents showed up in the two-day public hearing initiated by the Iloilo City Council. City Councilors Ely Estante and Armand Parcon led the consultation that saw barangay officials, representatives of transport groups, senior citizens, the local academe and project proponents, executives of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Estante when reached by The News Today (TNT) said the public hearings came as an opportune time amidst the frenzy caused by the STL comeback.
"We will certainly be guided by the sentiments of the community and the voices we heard thus far. Whatever decision we will come up with will all be based on both proponents and their supporters and the opposing side with their own arguments. In due time, we will make our position clear," Estante said.
Parcon on the other hand ensured that invites were duly sent out on all sectors if only for them to participate in the debate for and against STL.
Both former media personalities, Estante and Parcon got the hearing discussions to be "very healthy" on those present with sentiments duly heard and recognized.
"Mayo man ni 'ya nga public hearing kay may order (This is one orderly public hearing)," one barangay official commented "Nasiguro gid nga mapamatian ang amon opinion kag tawhay man nga mabatian man ang iya sang iban (At least we are assured that our opinions were heard the same way that it was for others)."