A PUBLIC consultation is set to be conducted in La Trinidad by Municipal Council to get the pulse of the people on the applications of e-bingo gaming enterprise.
Three applications for e-bingo games have been waiting for the approval from the Municipal Council.
Applications from Elan Recreation, headed by Raymundo Nazario, Leonora David Basbas of the David-Basbas Gaming Enterprise Corporation and Lolita Cabahug of the Cabahug Gaming Enterprise for the conduct of traditional and electronic bingo games were filed in the municipality.
Nazario identified two sites, the SM Savemore building and the cockpit area at Shilan while Basbas eyed to operate at Palangdao Building at kilometer 4 and Cabahug has yet to identify the location of her gaming business.
Councilor Guiller Galwan said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation accredited gaming sites will contribute to tax revenue for the municipality as well as open community projects citing school buildings set up by the government backed corporation as a possible upside to the proposals.
Galwan said the public consultation will bring the matter into due process and will get the sentiment of the people to guide the council on how to vote when the time comes for the body to decide on the proposals.
Mayor Romeo Salda has given a no gambling stance since he took office and banned gaming even in small barangay fiestas.
In 2010, former Mayor Artemio Galwan approved a permit to run Jai Alai operations giving Meridien Vista Corporation under Rene de Castro a mayor’s permit, municipal trial court clearances as well as a sanitary permit, which was denied by Mayor Greg Abalos, who preceded Galwan.
Since then, an all-out war has been waged in the valley, ousting the gaming company in La Trinidad carried out by former Mayor Edna Tabanda who went as far as banning gambling during wakes and led the destruction of gaming machines.