Rescission of bingo approval, towing up for public hearing

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The city council will subject to a public hearing the proposed resolution of Councilor Maria Mylene Yaranon withdrawing the “no-objection” ruling the body earlier granted to two applications for bingo operation on July 26, 8:30 a.m. at the Multi-purpose Hall, City Hall.

 Yaranon’s proposed resolution seeks to rescind the approval of Resolution No. 176 series of 2017 interposing no objection to the requests of Bingo Palace Corporation to maintain and operate a traditional bingo and e-bingo at Albergo Hotel at Villamor Drive, Highland Gaming Corporation to operate traditional and e-bingo at SM City Baguio and Highland Bingo at the Baguio Center Mall along Magsaysay Avenue here.

  In her proposed measure, Yaranon said the resolution should be withdrawn for the city to uphold its ideal as a character city.

“The City should promote the well-being of a family being the basic social institution with members spending their time productively with their family and not for vices,” the alderwoman said.

“Traditional bingo and e-bingo are games which involve money for a game of chance (which) is a menace and can be addictive (and results) to bankruptcy and broken families.”

Moreover, Yaranon said the locations of the operations are within the 300-meter distance limit to schools, churches, public market and others and therefore violate the distance requirement set by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

“The St. Joseph Church and Little Flower Retreat House, a church and place of worship; Dr. Jose P. Rizal Elementary School, a public school, Pacdal Satellite Market which form part of the Baguio City Public Market are located within 300 meters from Albergo Hotel;

“The Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral, a church, is located within 300 meters from SM Baguio (while) the Baguio Public Market and the St. Louis University and University of Baguio, schools, are location within 300 meter from Baguio Center Mall,” Yaranon said.

Meanwhile the city council committee on public utilities, transportation and traffic legislation will hold a public consultation on August 1, 9 a.m. at the Multi-Purpose Hall the following proposed ordinances:

Proposed towing ordinance by Councilors Benny Bomogao, Michael Lawana and Faustino Olowan; proposed ordinance by Councilor Arthur Allad-iw requiring all local and national government offices, private and public schools, private and public hospitals, Justice Hall, banks, churches, malls, supermarkets, call centers, funeral homes, bus and van terminals, condominiums, hotels and apartells to install taxi signages; proposed ordinances designating loading and unloading and taxi stands along roads and streets and requesting for the construction of podium car parking in the city both by Councilors Bomogao, Lawana and Olowan.