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Thursday, January 22, 2004
City Council blocks dog racetrack plan
By Aledel A. Gonzales
THE Mandaue City Council did not ratify the lease agreement between the City and a foreign company for the establishment of a hotel and a dog racing park at the reclamation area.
Instead, the City Council recommended an amendment to the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the City and World Greyhound Racing Park so the clause on the dog racetrack will be removed.
City Councilor Carlo Pontico Fortuna, chairman of the committee on laws and ordinances, said yesterday that the resolution authorizing Mayor Thadeo Ouano to enter into an agreement with the company was only for a hotel and an international trade center.
Fortuna also pointed out that dog racing is prohibited under the anti-illegal gambling law.
Surprised
In a telephone interview, Fortuna said he was surprised when the MOA submitted to the City Council for ratification still contained the clause for the dog racing facility even if he already told Ouano that dog-racing is prohibited under Presidential Decree 1602.
The City Government also has an ordinance that prohibits dog racing.
Sought for comment, City Administrator Serafin Blanco said the clause mentioning the dog racetrack will be removed “if that is what it takes for the agreement to be ratified.”
Blanco said the MOA mentioned the dog-racing facility to establish the company’s intent to build it.
He added that the company is willing to apply for a legislative franchise for the racing facility.
Ouano and Byung Hun Min, president and managing director of World Greyhound Racing Park, had signed the lease agreement last Jan. 16.
A total of 115,436 square meters will be made available to the company at a rental rate of P4 per square meter.
Obligations
However, the company is required to pay the City some P3 million “to answer for any liabilities which World Greyhound Racing Park may suffer by reason of non-performance of the mandatory obligations.”
The agreement is good for 25 years and renewable for another 25 years.
Both parties already signed a memorandum of understanding last year “for the expeditious establishment of a hotel and dog racing facility.”
World Greyhound Racing Park wants to put up an international trade and exhibit center, a slot machines arcade and international cuisine and entertainment center first.
The racing oval and hotel will be built “as soon as the necessary franchise and permits shall have been acquired.”
(January 22, 2004 issue)
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