AN ANTI-CORRUPTION advocate in the House of Representatives has thanked his colleagues for supporting his proposal to ban gambling or gaming-related businesses within the proposed Bulacan economic zone.
Rep. Eddie Villanueva of Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) party-list group was referring to House Bill 8841 which was approved at the lower chamber before Congress went on a Christmas break last Dec. 13.
The measure adopted an amendment proposed by Villanueva which prohibits the Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (BACSEZFA) from approving and registering any activity “that supports gaming or gambling, even if the same is regulated or licensed or allowed by Philippine laws.”
“The moral ills and damaging effects of gambling are so empirically pronounced and cannot be denied. Gambling brings indebtedness, money laundering, prostitution, proliferation of drugs and crimes, reduced familial stability, marriage break-ups, and to name a few,” Villanueva stressed.
He said approval of the amended bill was a positive step toward pursuing “holistic and genuine development” without the moral setbacks.
“We aim to that through the Bulacan ecozone model, we might be able to show the world that genuine progress and affluence can be achieved through obedience to God’s Word and not by succumbing to the get-rich-quick formula of the world,” said Villanueva, an evangelist and president-founder of the Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide.
Villanueva, a co-author of HB 8841, hails from Bocaue, Bulacan.
“I thank my colleagues for approving our proposed amendment to oppose gambling businesses in the Bulacan ecozone. It is worth noting that this not only mirrors the will of this Representation and of the concerned sectors in Bulacan but also of the franchise-recipient of airport construction in the province. This is a big win for all Bulakenyos,” Villanueva said.