NV board reaffirms support for STL

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The provincial board of Nueva Vizcaya has reaffirmed its support for the operation of the government-sanctioned small town lottery (STL) in the province.

The board, in a special session Tuesday, dumped a proposed resolution seeking to reverse an earlier resolution expressing approval for STL, which is under the supervision of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Six board members favored maintaining their support for STL, while four voted against it and two abstained. Two members were absent during the special session.

The provincial board, in effect, ruled against the proposed resolution of minority leader Patricio Dumlao Jr., seeking to overturn an earlier resolution supporting STL operations in the province to combat jueteng and raise additional revenues for local communities.

Those who voted in favor of maintaining the provincial board’s support for STL were board members Glenn Afan, the majority leader; Merly Talingdan; Teodorico Padilla Jr.; Byron Sevillena, provincial Sangguniang Kabataan chairman; Amado Mangaoang, provincial Liga ng mga Barangay chairman; and Primo Percival Marcos.

Aside from Dumlao, those who rejected STL were board members Flaviano Balgos, Maybelle Blossom Dumlao ,and Hipolito Mamuric. Board member Edu Balgos, majority leader pro tempore, abstained.

"My only interest as chairman of the committee on ways and means in supporting STL is that it is a legal operation that will redound to added income for the province," Marcos said.

The provincial board initially passed an anti-STL resolution several months ago, but later overturned it with another resolution supported by the majority of its members.