MORE NEWS, NUEVA VIZCAYA

Nueva Vizcaya prov’l execs renew bid for STL operations
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Viz­caya -- The provincial government has renewed its interest in the entry of the national government-backed small town lottery (STL) as an additional revenue-generating scheme after it was shelved for more than a year.

Vice Gov. Jose Gambito said the entry of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)-operated STL here would also somehow help in their continued campaign against all forms of illegal gambling.

“Besides, the funds to be generated from STL would directly go to the coffers of the local government units to augment their funds for development activities,” he said. In 2006, the Gambito-led 14-member provincial board passed a resolution supporting the entry of STL in the province, amid opposition from Church-backed anti-gambling advocates, who argued that STL is no different from jueteng, a popular illegal numbers game.

In support of the provincial board’s pro-STL move, the 15-member provincial mayors’ league passed a similar resolution endorsing STL operations. The anticipated STL entry here, however, did not materialize after reports surfaced that a number of board members allegedly received “goodwill money” ranging from P15,000 to P50,000 from groups lobbying to become the local STL franchisees, an allegation the provincial board members denied.

“We expressed our renewed support for STL operations in the province. We believe this would be an effective deterrent to jueteng,” Gambito said. -- CL