BAGUIO CITY June 04 – Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong criticized the management of RCC Global Entertainment, proponent of the two additional electronic and traditional bingo outlets in the city, for their alleged failure to personally appear during Friday’s scheduled public consultation to personally listen to the overwhelming sentiments of the various sectors against the company’s proposal.
He claimed that the company’s gesture to send its representative to attend the public hearing and listen to the sentiments of the people on the controversial matter is an insult to the city officials who spared their time to be present and listen to the voice of the people on the proposal to open 2 additional e-bingo outlets in the city, particular along Mabini Street and Marcos highway.
However, the local chief executive stated that he will not hand down a decision on the matter as he will be waiting the decision of the city council on whether or not to pursue the earlier approved resolutions approving the operation of the additional e-bingo outlets following the results of the public consultation that was aimed at eliciting the sentiments of the residents on the matter.
He expressed his gratitude to the people who shared their insights and experiences on gambling during the consultation held at the Baguio Convention Center where the results of the said activity will serve as a guide to the city council in coming out with their future decision on whether or not to allow the operation of additional e-bingo outlets in the city.
Earlier, Mayor Magalong refused to affix his signature on two resolutions that was approved by the city council allowing the operation of electronic and traditional bingo outlets in the city because the industry or the activity by its nature alone warrants the conduct of public consultations to ascertain the real sentiment of the people on the controversial matter.
For his part, Vice Mayor Faustino A. Olowan apologized to the participants of the public consultation if the city council passed certain legislations that might have offended them and that the local legislators will continue to ensure the enactment of ordinances and resolutions that will be for the benefit of the city residents.
He disclosed that among the important legislations that were passed by the city council will include the city scholarship program, the modernization of the Baguio City library, the codification of the city ordinances, the city sports code and other legislations beneficial to the interest of the greater majority of the populace.
The results of the public consultation, including the numerous position papers of the attendees, will be transmitted to the local legislative body’s Committee on Laws, Justice and Human Rights for study and recommendation on what the position of the council will be in the coming months.
RCC Global Entertainment earlier filed its intention to operate the additional electronic and traditional bingo outlets along Mabini Street and Marcos highway to add up to the existing 4 e-bingo outlets that had been approved in the past.
By Dexter A. See