Joseph expresses alarm over gambling in Makati

Concerns have been raised by a Makati City councilor about the city turning into the country’s gambling capital.

Councilor Mark Joseph aired his apprehensions upon the recent approval of the city’s land use and zoning plan which has among its provisions the legalization of gambling establishments and institutions.

The city council approved the land use and zoning plan the other day on its third and final reading. Joseph said he opposed the provisions in the land use plan which defined stadiums and racetracks as places where spectators could gather to watch games of chance.

"The bill also defined places for lottery, betting stations and other gambling activities as facilities for playing a game for money and property. Casinos will fall under this definition," Joseph said.

But Councilor Ricardo Javier dismissed as grossly inaccurate and exaggerated Joseph’s allegations, stressing that legalization of gambling is not within the powers of the city council.

What the provision in the zoning ordinance simply states, Javier said, is that it will allow the operation of activities such as lotto, off-track and off-fronton betting stations, all of which are already allowed by law. Javier expressed concern that the issue is being sensationalized in the media by the opposition in Makati obviously for political purposes.

Javier claimed Joseph distorted the meaning of the provision and has maliciously misled the public into thinking that Makati is legalizing gambling within the city, which it cannot do, assuming it wanted to. Moreover, Javier emphasized that despite this provision which merely allows already nationally legalized activities, franchise operators will still have to comply with stringent regulations imposed by the city government before being able to actually operate.

Joseph said under the ordinance, areas such as Forbes Park, Dasmariñas Village, Bel-Air, Guadalupe Viejo, East and West Rembo, Comembo-Pembo, San Lorenzo and Carmona have been designated as areas where gambling establishments may be set up.

"That represents about 40 percent of the entire Makati land area that will be teeming with gambling activities and everything that goes with it," Joseph said.

He explained that there is no specific mention of gambling in the said ordinance. However, it may empower the Mayor’s office to issue gambling franchises to individuals and private entities without passing through the city council, he added.

Joseph also indicated that the said ordinance went against the law which converted Makati from a municipality into a city.

Under the said law (RA 7854), the council was mandated to stop all gambling activities illegal or otherwise.

However, he lamented that the same law also provides a way out by allowing the city to establish the gambling facilities three years after the law’s enactment. He complained that the provisions on gambling were never discussed during the council sessions.

"The so-called designation of areas for sports stadiums, racetracks, lottery and betting stations and other forms of gambling was never discussed openly by the council during the deliberation of the proposed ordinance," Joseph said.