Parañaque mayor backs Rep. Olivarez's bill fixing host city shares in PAGCOR earnings

Mayor Eric Olivarez with BPLO chief Atty. Melanie-Malaya at the Senate hearing on a house bill fixing host city shares in PAGCOR earnings. (Photo from FB page of Mayor 0livarez)
Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez expressed his full support to House Bill 05238 introduced by his brother, Representative Edwin Olivarez, which calls for the fixing of the host city share in the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) earnings.
Olivarez together with his Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) chief, Atty. Melanie Soriano-Malaya, attended the public hearing of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement presided by Senator Raffy Tulfo.
He said House Bill 05283, a counterpart of Senate Bill 2061 introduced by Senator Francis Tolentino, was examined carefully during the hearing.
The mayor explained the details on the costs of being a host city for three world-class integrated resort and casinos -- Solaire, Okada, and City of Dreams.
Rep. Edwin shared updates on the proceedings of the bill which underwent amendments after careful deliberations with the committee along with PAGCOR and other concerned stakeholders, and congressmen.
The congressman said PAGCOR representative Atty. Arnold Ferdinand Salvosa highlighted the amendments to the original version of the Charter of PAGCOR where 5% of the franchise tax would be subdivided into 3% for the national government and 2% for the city government..
He said Sen. Tolentino reiterated the rationale of the bill and expressed his empathy towards local government units (LGUs) who shoulder the social services costs of hosting the casinos and resorts.