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Church Opposed to the Opening of Casino at San Fernando La Union, Philippines

The Poro Point Fiesta Casino opened without fanfare despite the opposition from church leader in La Union.

La Union clergy and other sectors with Bishop Artemio Rillera, of the Diocese of San Fernando, slammed the casino operation

The Bishop said it would only spawn "untold evils" like prostitution, drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, crimes like robbery and the destruction of family values.

"There can never be a justification for promoting gambling under the pretext of generating jobs for the unemployed," he said, echoing the pastoral letter issued by the diocese last year.

"For the sake of providing job opportunities and uplifting conditions of the poor, Rillera said progress could be achieved in other areas that need to be explored. He lamented that the operation of the casino proceeded despite his meeting with President Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacaņang last year seeking to prevent the casino from opening.

The facility, which is part of the Poro Point and Tourism Complex inside the 68-hectare Poro Point Special Economic and Freeport Zone (PPSEFZ), houses 100 slot machines and several gambling tables for baccarat and Pai Gaw, a Chinese card game similar to the Filipino "pusoy". The tourism complex includes a first-class restaurant, which is near the casino. From the casino, the visitor gets a good view of the surrounding area as the strip of land on which it is built just into the South China Sea.

Local executives, businessmen, officials and employees of government agencies based in this city are starting to patronize the casino. Since it opened, the casino has attracted high rollers not only from the province but also from Pangasinan, Iloco Sur and Baguio City. The casino open at noon and ends it operation at 6 a.m.

A U.S. based firm operats the casino. The Thunderbird Resorts Inc. which reportedly invested P1.3 Billion in the venture, the casino and the resort facility employs about 300 workers. Thunderbird which operates 12 gaming businesses in five Latin American countries, also owns Fiesta Casino and Resort in Rizal. Thunderbird Resorts Inc., is formerly knows as Thunderbird Gaming Corporation. The shareholders unanimously approved a name change to "Thunderbird Resorts, Inc." Effective September 30,2005.

Thunderbird Resorts Inc., entered into an agreement to jointly supply and operate the first "Racino" in the Philippines. Under the grant of authority issued by PAGCOR, New Victor Corporation, along with its new joint venture partner, Thunderbird will supply slot machines and add its operating expertise to this PAGCOR facility. The project is expected to open in December 2006.

 

Monday, 24. 2006
Gerald Kernighan