Thursday, June 15, 2006
Small town lottery should pass thru council: Lawyer
LAWYER Joshua Alim, former city councilor, said that the authority to operate Small Town Lottery (STL) in Iloilo City should pass through the City Council.
Alim’s reaction came after City Hall’s issuance of a business permit to the Iloilo Small Town Lottery Gaming and Amusement Corp. to operate STL.
The business permit was signed by Vice Mayor Guillermo dela Llana last May, when he was OIC Mayor during Mayor Jerry P. Trenas’s absence.
Alim said that a permit for STL is not just an ordinary permit because of its wide scope and the fact that it has to pass through social acceptability.
“It’s but right that the City Council should tackle this even if a business permit has been issued,” he said.
Requirements met
Meanwhile, Lerma Espanola, chief of the Permit and Licensing Division, City Hall, said in a radio interview that despite her hesitation, she released the business permit because the corporation applying for it completed its requirements.
As per the Local Tax Code, a business permit can be issued to an applicant if the requirements are met. These include barangay clearance where the business will be located; certification of real property ownership from the assessor’s office; permit from the Zoning Division and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
“Once you get the clearance, there’s no reason for the Licensing Division to withhold the permit,” Espanola said.
Legal
Dela Llana admitted signing the business permit because STL is legal.
He also said that he believes STL can help the needy. “Through STL, we can lessen crimes and suicides because residents will have a source of income,” he said. (KVC)
(June 15, 2006 issue)
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