Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra said he is saddened that majority of the barangay captains are pushing for the operation of small time lottery in Bacolod City.

Navarra was reacting to the resolution signed by 52 barangay captains urging the City of Bacolod to allow the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to operate STL in the 61 barangays in the city, in an interview over Aksyon Radyo Saturday.

Those who did not sign the resolution were Barangay Captains El Cid Familiaran of Brgy. 13, Anjo Ayco - Brgy. 15 Eduardo Dingcong - Brgy. Montevista, Eduardo Galona - Brgy. Vista Alegre, Tommy Inventor - Brgy. Mansilingan, Rodolfo Montaño - Brgy. Tangub, Benjamin Macasa - Brgy. Sum-ag, Elmo Olivar - Brgy. Pahanocoy, and Joemarie Biasca - Brgy. 36. Navarra said the move is a lack of understanding on the part of the concerned barangay captains of their responsibility to protect the welfare of the people.

He said it is their responsibility to instill in the people proper values especially in the proper use of money. He said they should teach the people to observe priorities of values and of needs.

Navarra said he does not condemn them because of their stand but he is appealing to their conscience.

If STL pushes through, this is one way of teaching the people an easy-go-lucky way of life which will not help alleviate their situation, he said. It is leaving the future of their family to chance and the game of chance instead of using their knowledge and skills to learn decent ways to earn a living, he added.

What kind of values and what kind of leadership are you setting to our people? Navarra asked.

He said only the operators and the government will earn from STL while the people lose because the city will not progress through it. This is the reason why poverty abounds, he said. Navarra said he believes that despite poverty, there are many opportunities available from which the people can earn a living.

Meanwhile, when asked for his reaction to the request of the police of a budget of P16.2 million for the Internal Security Operations Plan of Bacolod City, Navarra said he is not knowledgeable on the matter.

"But if the money is there, I believe there should be a proper accounting or transparency so the people will know where their money went," he said.

When informed that part of the fund will be used to arm barangay tanods and to purchase firearms for the police, Navarra said that when you speak of firearms, it always speaks of violence.

He said it is good if the persons issued the firearms are responsible people who will not abuse them but use them in the proper way.

Navarra said that if the government has money, this should be used in ways that can help alleviate the lives of the people.*CGS

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