LA TRINIDAD Councilor Guiller Galwan is backing electronic bingo (e-bingo) operations for the town.

“Mahirap sabihin, eh but personally I approve. Alam naman natin na gambling is hindi talaga maganda pero iyong kasi sa ways and means iniisip ko iyong income ng munisipyo. Anyway, it will be determined in the public hearing naman,” Galwan said.

However, anti e-bingo advocates in the municipality have opposed against electronic-bingo operations.

Father Paulino Sarac said e-bingo have more bad effects in the people and agencies, company in charge are just getting money from the people. “With that one we are against,” Sarac added.

The San Jose parish priest said the officials are also the ones who promote and the people are also attracted to these knowing the obvious bad result.

“I suspect usually the council have one person to sacrifice to say ‘I am against’ but actually majority is in favor, just say to say someone is against but majority are really in favour,” added Sarac.

Sarac said most of the affected citizens in the community are farmers and especially those who are unemployed.

“In the first place the government should have alternatives for the people to focus and work on rather than engaging themselves to gambling such as e-bingo,” Sarac continued.

Galwan will lead a public consultation on Sept. 11 to further engage the concerned citizens, different committees and the general public.

The public hearing would aid the Municipal Council of La Trinidad whether to issue the resolution of no objection giving the go signal of allowing e-bingo operations.

The three gaming enterprises, Elan Recreation headed by Raymundo Nazario, Leonora David Basbas of the David-Basbas Gaming Enterprise Corporation and Lolita Cabahug of the Cabahug Gaming Enterprise appealed for a reconsideration to establish e-bingo stations in the municipality. (Lauren Alimondo)