DUMAGUETE (Agenzia Fides): Gambling has been a persistent problem in the Philippines for many years. It is present in both legal and illegal forms throughout the country. In an effort to control gambling and generate revenue for the government, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation [Pagcor] was established. Various public and private organizations offer different types of gambling, with casino gambling being an integral part of the tourism industry.
A new casino is now being built by the Southern Lights Gaming Corporation on the outskirts of Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental Province, in the Visayas islands in the central Philippines, a tourist area known for its natural beauty, sparking alarm and protest.
Father Julius Heruela, a parish priest in the Diocese of Dumaguete, says that “the community was taken by surprise.” The president of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, also emphasised that the diocese will oppose the establishment of a casino because it is “immoral and detrimental to society,” especially considering the corruption and the harm it could cause young people, and because it is a hotbed for crime.
The local Church intends to coordinate with educational institutions such as universities, schools and colleges as well as associations in the area to carry out a nationwide information campaign against gambling.
“Casino operators try to attract tourists with entertainment offers,” Father Heruela notes. For example, some resorts already offer gambling as part of their services to tourists.
A new casino is now being built by the Southern Lights Gaming Corporation on the outskirts of Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental Province, in the Visayas islands in the central Philippines, a tourist area known for its natural beauty, sparking alarm and protest
The Catholic community will therefore “seek alliances with educators, environmentalists and health experts, i.e. with people who are genuinely interested in the well-being of the population and not just with profit in mind,” he said.
The city was shaken on 4 March 2023, when former soldiers killed 10 people, including Roel Degamo, the governor of Negros Oriental. But social peace is also threatened by casino plan.
Police reports indicate that casino activities are frequently employed as a means to launder money. Despite mounting pressure from civil society, the gaming industry continues to lobby for permits to open new establishments. Furthermore, gambling addiction poses a significant threat to public health, as pathological or compulsive gambling is a social disease that can have negative impacts on individuals, families, and businesses.
The relevant government authority is indeed committed to licensed, legal, conscious and balanced gambling to minimise the potential harm to individuals and communities. However the popularity and prevalence of gambling in Philippine society—a practice that was institutionalised as early as the 1500s, at the time of the Spanish colonial rule—makes it difficult to control or restrict the practice in society.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
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According to anthropologists, gambling is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon, as well as an extremely flexible means of redistributing wealth.
The issue of gambling also has serious moral implications: in several statements, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines highlighted the role of politics in curbing the effects of gambling, as it “seriously undermines the moral values of the people, fuels corruption, negatively impacts families’ lives and is addictive.”
Dumaguete has over 134,000 inhabitants, is home to four universities and several colleges, which has also earned it the nickname “university city” and makes it an educational and cultural centre in Negros Oriental.
