Town mayors back STL operation in Aklan
Town mayors in Aklan are pushing for the operation of Small Town Lottery (STL) in the province.
In a three-page resolution passed by the Aklan chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) on September 11, the mayors has invited the chair and general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to conduct a test run of the numbers game in the province. The LMP-Aklan also invited the two PCSO officials to orient the officials of the LMP and the province on the rules and regulations governing the operation of the STL.
The resolution was signed by 16 of the province's 17 municipal mayors led by Kalibo Raymar Rebaldo. Rebaldo had opposed the operation of the STL last year.
In a letter to Aklan Vice Gov. Gabrielle Calizo, the LMP-Aklan said the legalization of STL "would be favorable to local government unit (s)... as long as regulatory measures are undertaken."
In their letter signed by Mayor Elverita Templonuevo, LMP-Aklan public relations officer, the League said the operation of STL "would eliminate if not completely eradicate the illegal gambling operation in the province..."
Templonuevo pointed out that illegal gambling continues to exist "despite relentless campaigns" and h the government has not gained anything from its operation.
She said the STL has become "synonymous" with the lottery also operated by the PCSO which she said has given additional funds to local governments.
In their resolution, the mayors also said that that the legalization of STL would lessen the work of law-enforcement agencies tasked to crackdown on illegal gambling so that they can focus on other peace and order and security concerns.
The mayors said that proceeds from STL will benefit charitable institutions and local government units which can be used to fund programs and services for the people.
The Aklan provincial board last year passed a resolution opposing the operation of STL in the province and declared that it will reject any application for the operation of the numbers game.
The board had said that the operation of STL will be "detrimental to the moral, familial and financial well being" of Aklanons.
Calizo said she believes the STL could not operate in the province without the approval of the provincial board.
I have consulted with the Department of Interior and Local Government and it is of their opinion that the LMP does not have the authority to allow the operation of the STL," Calizo said in a telephone interview.
STL is operating in Iloilo City but is barred in the province of Iloilo.
The Catholic Church is also strongly opposing the operation of STL. The Archdioceses of Jaro and Capiz have issued pastoral statements against STL.
The priests had said in their statement that legalizing illegal gambling does not make it moral and will not resolved the people's poverty.
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines President and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo earlier issued a statement calling on all government officials to stop the operation of STL.
Stop STL please! It is another cause of corruption, another means of exploitation of the poor. The country has enough of these anti-social factors. Whatever economic development our government shall have proudly achieved will be diminished or negated by the corruption and exploitation that accompany STL and jueteng," Lagdameo said in his statement.