Provincial Board rushes approval of STL
LINGAYEN—The members of the provincial board recorded another first since the board’s reorganization four months ago.
After unanimously signing a manifesto threatening to declare Archbishop Oscar Cruz as persona non grata, the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan convened last Friday only to approve one resolution – to endorse the operation of Small Town Lottery (STL) in Pangasinan and to authorize Governor Amado Espino Jr. to negotiate this with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
The conduct of the brief meeting was revealed by Sixth Board Member Ranjit Ramos Shahani who was among those who pushed for the measure to be adopted “to help the governor address the problem of jueteng.”
After a breakfast meeting called by Vice Governor and presiding officer Ferdinand Calimlim, Shahani said the board members present drafted and presented the resolution that was approved outright without any question or objection.
In an interview, Shahani said the resolution is similar to the one filed by his fellow Sixth District Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. interposing no objection to the establishment of STL in the province. The resolution was referred to the committee on laws and ordinances for first reading.
As one of the sponsors of the measure, Shahani was set to deliver a sponsorship speech but this did not happen because the session was adjourned after the measure was approved.
Those who approved the resolution were Board Members Napoleon Fontelera Jr. and Teofilo Humilde Jr. of the first district; Von Mark Mendoza and Raul Sison of the second district; Generoso Tulagan Jr.; of the Third District, Jeremy Rosario and Mojamito Libunao Jr. of the Fourth District; Clemente Arbuleda Jr. of the Fifth District; Shahani of the Sixth District; Liga ng mga Barangay president Amadeo Espino, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Kazel Celeste and Philippine Councilors League chapter president Salvador Perez Jr.
BM Bince, Danilo Uy and Angel Baniqued were absent.
When asked why the measure was approved without the benefit of a committee hearing, Shahani said a committee hearing is required only necessary when approving an ordinance.
Shahani said the establishment of STL is viewed as an alternative not only stamp out jueteng in Pangasinan for good but to provide legitimate livelihood to former collectors and cabos who were displaced when jueteng operations in the province came to complete stop.
The resolution seeks to grant a franchise for STL operation in Pangasinan and its component cities to be operated by a single operator duly franchised by Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
PCSO is still reportedly modifying STL’s mechanism to address the complaint that STL is being used as a front for jueteng.
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