SEVERAL bingo operations permitted in some barangays have been raided and shut down by police, but this did not stop officials of Barangay Rizal Monument to take a gamble by approving a bingo and carnival.
Located a few meters away from City Hall and the Baguio City Police Office, the bingo started operating last week.
On April 10, the Rizal Monument barangay council passed two resolutions that approved the conduct of a bingo social and carnival to raise funds for the construction of a multipurpose hall for the barangay, as well as to purchase office equipment and equipment for tanods.
Barangay chairman Marleo Sabado was also authorized to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Emmanuel Langrio, a bingo and carnival operator from Batangas.
These resolutions were passed almost a month after Langrio offered to bring in his equipment and help raise funds the barangay needed.
The barangay council used as basis Chapter IV, section 11 of the Local Government Code, which provides barangay councils the power to hold fund-raising activities without the need to secure permits.
The same provision states that proceeds from barangay fund raising activities are tax-exempt.
In the MOA, the bingo and carnival will operate for two months and could be renewed upon the approval of the barangay council.
The MOA further states the barangay will supervise activities in the area to assure the operator's compliance of the guidelines set forth in the agreement.
The operator is required to maintain cleanliness, secure and fence the area, coordinate all activities with the barangay officials, no loud noise or music, no gambling, and all prizes should be in kind. The MOA does not contain how the sharing scheme between the two parties will be.
The area, located at the corner of Chanum and Rizal Park south road is leased to Langrio by Gamaphel Realty Corp for P170,000 per month.
The contract of lease allows use of the area from April 21 to June 21.
The contract of lease, which was signed on April 14, and the MOA, which was signed on April 21, were both notarized by Councilor Fred Bagbagen.
On the date the MOA was signed, Sabado wrote Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. asked assistance for the identification of a site where the proposed multi-purpose hall will be built.
In the meantime, Councilor Elaine Sembrano, chair of the committee on market, trade and commerce asked the Public Order and Safety Division to inspect the site, citing past experiences of the city where cash prizes were used to lure in more clients. (Rimaliza Opiña)
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