NEGROS Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo on Monday said he fully supports the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s expanded Small Town Lottery in his province as this would create thousands of jobs and legitimize the “underground economy” of illegal gambling.
“I will aggressively support the implementation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 13 against all forms of illegal gambling operations here in my province. Eliminating this social menace that destroys the moral fabric of society would end the culture of corruption by gambling lords and their cohorts in governments,” Degamo said in a statement.
Late last week, Duterte issued EO13 and ordered the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and all other law enforcement agencies to help games and amusement regulatory bodies curb illegal gambling operations in the country.
Just recently, PCSO launched the expanded STL with a total of 56 Authorized Agent Corporations in several parts of the country to generate a conservative amount of up to P30 billion, according to PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan.
PCSO Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz said on top of raising billions for the national government’s revenue generation program, the expanded STL is expected to produce nearly 500,000 jobs.
“Imagine the figure STL can generate employment for this year alone. Actually, we are preparing again the bidding of 37 more prospective AACs within this year. Our estimate is that if we can increase the employment through the STL, the government can generate up to P40 billion of revenues,” Balutan said.
According to Degamo, he was already been informed that the local branches of PCSO, the police and the NBI have already issued stern warnings to stop illegal numbers games operations in the province.
“The provincial government will do its share to stop illegal gambling operations and stop corrupton,” the governor vowed.
He said he will also encourage the STL’s AAC in the province to absorb bet collectors from the underground economy by illegal gambling operators and go legal instead.
“I think this is the only way we can stop this menace [illegal gambling] and we have to fully support it,” Degamo said.
Degamo also confirmed reports that all illegal bookie agents are flocking and applying for work for STL in the province.
