Friday, February 08, 2008 Reversal of councilors' anti-bingo stance sought By Jane Cadalig
BARANGAY officials of Pico, La Trinidad asked the Municipal Council to reconsider its denial on their proposal to hold a mini-carnival in the village.
Negating the earlier findings of the Municipal Council committee on barangay affairs, Pico barangay officials asked the favorable endorsement for the holding of Bingo Socials and Rides, purposely to raise funds for the barangay.
Earlier, the council denied the village's request to hold the mini-carnival in the barangay to raise funds to purchase solid waste management facilities and to hire additional police auxiliaries, or barangay tanods (watchmen).
The committee on barangay affairs, chaired by Councilor Robert Namoro, recommended the denial saying the proposed activity, which is supposed to run for three months, will cause problems on peace and order and sanitation.
Namoro said the proposed site is near educational and religious institutions, which could create social problems.
The barangay officials however said the activities in these institutions will not be affected as these are located 100 meters away from the site of the proposed mini-carnival.
Furthermore, they said no classes will be disturbed since the bingo social operations will strictly start at 4 p.m.
They added that the activity will not will worsen the traffic situation along the national road of Barangay Pico, as opposed to the committee findings, since the proposed site is more than 100 meters away from the four lane road.
They said barangay tanods will assist the La Trinidad police in enforcing the "no parking" policy on either sides of the national road.
Further disproving the committee report, the barangay council said operators of the bingo socials will provide portable toilets to ensure sanitation in the area.
As to the allegation the activity is being used as front for illegal gambling, officials said a memorandum of agreement was signed between the barangay and the operator specifying no illegal gambling will be tolerated in the area.
Namoro claimed that the conduct of bingo socials in the barangays were merely fronts for illegal gambling.
Barangays are allowed to hold bingo socials and rides only during their respective barangay fiestas.
The Municipal Council advised barangay officials of Pico to look for other forms of fund raising than bingo socials.
