Pagcor to stop Baguio e-games

BAGUIO CITY – The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. is set to revoke or cancel operations of electronic or e-games here along Marcos Highway after Tuba mayor Ignacio Rivera told Baguio mayor Mauricio Domogan he will not issue business permit to the operator since the area where the establishment is located is not within Tuba.   

Rivera visited Domogan last week to inform him of this because the site is within Baguio. Domogan cited Rivera for this saying it will enhance relationship between Tuba and Baguio governments.

Earlier, the city council told Pagcor its earlier Resolution No. 133, series of 2015 requesting the state gaming corporation to revoke, cancel and stop the operation of the electronic games along Marcos highway because the operator erroneously secured its endorsement from the Tuba municipal council and its business permit from the Tuba municipal government instead of the city government which has jurisdiction over the area.

Pagcor officials who appeared before they city council said they will immediately work out closure of the e-games outlet along Marcos highway because the local government that has jurisdiction over the area where it operates was not the one that issued the required endorsement and the business permit.

Under Pagcor rules and regulations, operators of amusement games, bingo outlets, electronic games among other Pagcor- regulated games must first secure the endorsement or certificate of no objection from the Sanggunian concerned and business permit before  processing of their license to operate.

Rivera said it is but proper to correct whatever defects that were created when the previous Tuba municipal council made an endorsement for the operation of the electronic games in the area that rightfully belongs to the city government to help improve our inter-local relations to be able to achieve better partnerships for robust economic growth in the future, particularly in the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay area which is being pushed as one of the new growth centers in the north.

The barangay council of Sto. Tomas Proper and City Assessor’s Office have also declared the area where the electronic games outlet was established is within Baguio and boundary of Tuba municipality was distant from location of the e-games establishment.