GOV. Aris Aumetado has requested the provincial board chaired by Vice-Gov. Nick Besas to enact a measure banning, if not regulating, the establishment and operations of gambling houses, like casinos, in Bohol, Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Handel Lagunay told the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The governor also has issued a memorandum to all municipalities to exercise prudence in allowing or not casinos thru permit applications in their respective turfs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lagunay said that the governor is \u201cnot keen\u201d in the casino establishment and operations in the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This came following the request of Panglao Mayor Edgardo Arcay for province\u2019s help on how to deal with certain casino. There\u2019s now pending casino permit application in this town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Provincial Board Member Atty. Jamie Villamor said that the province may ban the casino operations based on the new Provincial Tourism Code that provides \u201cthe province is eco-cultural tourism and family-oriented tourist destination\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Villamor, author of the newly-approved Provincial Tourism Code, recalled there was this SP measure or Resolution sponsored by then BM now Congw. Alexie Tutor, expressing no to casinos\u2019 establishment and operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the province still needs a clear-cut policy on casino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BM Atty. Benjie Arcamo, who is a native of Panglao, apparently agreed to ban casino like prohibiting the putting up of coal-powered plant in Bohol. Arcamo is the sponsor of anti-machine operated betting of cockfight ordinance just recently approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But BM Joahna Cabalit-Initay, ex-officio SP member representing Phil. Councilor\u2019s League Bohol chapter as president, said okay, adding, \u201cI would go for it.\u201d She said that the SP should also look for its advantages, like job opportunities casino may offer to Boholanos as long as it provides income. But this depends on the LGU to maybe ban or regulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bohol People\u2019s Council thru Mr. Batoy expressed favor the prohibition of casino in Bohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But there\u2019s a challenging issue facing the SP even if it passed a strict measure against casino operations since the national government thru PAGCOR governing casinos in the country may still assert its legal authority over LGUs when it grants a franchise to a casino operator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BM Dr. Romulo G. Cepedoza shared what he knows on casino, like in Dumaguete City and Boracay where casinos were permitted despite opposition. In Boracay, he said, casino is selective if one goes to it, he\/she must be a tourist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Villamor said that SP needs to lobby with the mayors to make them understand if ever SP will enact an Ordinance banning the casino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said that the provincial government may still have somewhat control over the casino establishment and operations here by putting another layer of requirement even if the national government grants franchises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said that said requirement may be in the form of official endorsement by the provincial government prior to casino\u2019 establishment. This also may apply even if the municipalities allows it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She opined that LGUs may also deny casinos permit application when it is not included in their respective Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) reviewed and approved by the board. (Ric Obedencio)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GOV. Aris Aumetado has requested the provincial board chaired by Vice-Gov. Nick Besas to enact a measure banning, if not regulating, the establishment and operations of gambling houses, like casinos, in Bohol, Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Handel Lagunay told the board. The governor also has issued a memorandum to all<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8450,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,32,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-thisweektopstories","category-top-stories",""],"yoast_head":"\n