QC lawmakers bent on shutting down betting shops

qc-lawmakers-bent-on-shutting-down-betting-shopsThe Philippines’ former capital, Quezon City, has a proliferation of electronic gaming shops that run through IT servers provided by local gaming company PhilWeb. But the rising popularity of these shops has led to frustration from the city council, which is determined to regulate the growth of these shops and shut down those that operate with expired special permits (SP).

Councilor Marvin Rillo of the fourth district of Quezon City and the Games and Amusement Committee chair of the council expressed concern that these shops, known in the country as E-Games, is growing at a rapid rate with some shops being allowed to operate in areas that are near schools and churches.

Recently, Rillo made a privilege speech and made no bones about his intention to shut down these shops, specifically those that are operating without a special permit. The councilor stopped short of blaming the city’s Business Permit and Licensing Office chief Gary Domingo for renewing the licenses and permits for these shops without taking into consideration their expired permits.

But even without the public finger-pointing, it was clear that the onus was being placed squarely on the shoulders of the BPLO boss. It certainly didn’t help Domingo’s cause that he wasn’t around for the hearing with e-game operators late last week where the smack down on his alleged ineptness was supposed to ensue.

The council’s Majority Floor Leader Jesus “Bong” Suntay did have a more diplomatic approach on how to address the issue of the shops operating with expired permits, arguing that city ordinances that have been put in place to handle businesses like this should be reviewed to ensure that something like this doesn’t happen again.