Isabel, Leyte mayor blocks gambling under proposed economic zone

Isabel, Leyte Mayor Saturnino Medina on Monday welcomed the proposal to create the Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone but disagreed with a provision allowing gambling in the area.

During the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs hearing, Senator Imee Marcos, panel chairperson, asked for the stakeholders' opinion as she stressed that House Bill No. 6489, which is being tackled, states that gambling will be allowed in the proposed economic zone "under the supervision of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation."

"We will be more than happy kung matutuloy 'yan [economic zone] dito sa Leyte dahil malaki ang maitutulong niyan sa lahat ng mamamayan. At saka kung puwede huwag na lang isama 'yung gambling," Medina told senators.

"Dahil 'yan ang magiging puno't dulo ng lahat ng kaguluhan eh... Papasok na pati ang illegal gambling. Huwag na lang 'yan para maayos ang peace and order natin dito," he added.

Marcos asked further: "Maski 'yung mga POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) ayaw ninyo kahit foreigners ang nagga-gambling?"

"Hindi na ma'am. Huwag na lang 'yan tutal marami naman diyan sa Manila at Cebu," Medina responded.

Senator Joel Villanueva, who condemned the P50-billion unpaid tax obligations of POGOs in 2019, lauded the mayor's position.

"I'd like to commend your vision for Isabel, Leyte at ang paninindigan mo na hindi talaga tama ang instant formula na magiging milyonaryo ka kung taya-taya ka lang," he said.

"It invites not only the wrath of God and promotion of greed."

The bill, approved by the House of Representatives last March and transmitted to the Senate the same month, seeks to convert the Leyte Industrial Development Estate in Isabel into a special economic zone consisting of an industrial estate, export processing zones, and free trade zone.

Leyte Provincial Planning Officer Corazon Alvero said the provincial government is also in support of the creation of the economic zone and described it as a "well sought-after" project with its expected impact of generating new job opportunities for the locals.  —KBK, GMA News