CAMIGUIN — Camiguin will continue to prohibit lottery operations, with Governor Xavier Jesus "XJ" Romualdo saying the province is putting the financial well-being of families ahead of potential gambling revenues.
Speaking during the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Week in Camiguin, Romualdo reaffirmed that his administration has no plans to allow lottery operations on the island.
The governor said the policy has been in place since the time of his grandfather, former Camiguin governor and representative Pedro Romualdo, whose belief that family needs should always come before gambling continues to guide the province.
"Naa gyud point akong Lolo before. Mas magamit gyud nimo ang kwarta sa pamilya kaysa isugal," Romualdo said.
Romualdo urged residents to spend their money on essentials such as food, education and household needs instead of lottery tickets or other gambling activities.
He also pointed to the social costs of gambling, recalling that theft incidents increased in some communities when e-sabong became popular.
"Na-experience nako nga katong naa ang e-sabong, daghan kawat, like sa mga manok. Nagsugod pa lang sa ginagmay, so maayo na lang gi-ban gyud siya," he said.
According to the governor, preventing gambling from taking hold in Camiguin helps protect families from financial hardship and reduces social problems that can affect communities.
While lottery and other gaming operations continue to expand in many parts of the country, Camiguin remains one of the few provinces that does not allow them.
Romualdo said the province will continue to uphold its long-standing policy, arguing that the long-term benefits of keeping gambling out outweigh any additional income it could bring.
For the provincial government, he said, the policy is about preserving the values that have guided Camiguin for generations and ensuring that residents prioritize their families over games of chance.
