The government-run Small Town Lottery is not welcome in Oriental Negros and Dumaguete City.

Valencia Mayor Rodolfo Gonzales, executive vice president of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines-Negros Oriental chapter, said the league is not in favor of STL, adding that Gov. George Arnaiz is also against it.

"We (town mayors) will not endorse the small town lottery. The better thing to do is to strengthen the moral fiber of society," Gonzales added.

Gonzales said any form of gambling is immoral and unproductive, and the government should not sponsor it.

In an interview, Arnaiz also confirmed that he is against the STL. He however, did not elaborate, saying that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will officially articulate the position of the provincial government on the matter.

Dumaguete City Vice Mayor William Ablong, president of the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines - Negros Oriental chapter, also expressed strong opposition to the STL.

Ablong said that, although his group has not yet come up with a common stand on the issue, he is personally against it.

"We should get funds from moral sources," Ablong said.

He added that it is also not good for the government to initiate any form of gambling.

Dumaguete Mayor Agustin Perdices said the people should be consulted on the matter. He, however, said one of the things that must be looked into is the STL patrons.

"Gambling is not that bad if the customers are the rich. But if it will squeeze the poor further, then that is bad," Perdices said. The government said the STL is designed to combat jueteng, whose main patrons are the poor.*RA

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