Santa Rosa, Laguna lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez on Monday, Jan. 27, expressed concern over how e-wallets have led to the rise of gamblers in the country, particularly those who play "scatter".

In his privilege speech, Fernandez said many Filipinos have become addicted to scatter--which previously was only available at casinos--after it had become available on mobile phones.

"Now 'di mo na kailangan pumunta sa mga casino, now sa mismong loob ng bahay mo kahit saan kahit kailan...makakapag scatter ka na di nalalaman ng kahit na sino (Now you don't have to go to the casinos, because even inside your home, you can play scatter without everybody else knowing)," he said.

The rise in the number of people playing scatter was made possible by technology, specifically by platforms offering mobile banking.

"With these apps, users could make instant deposits and withdrawals on popular betting websites that they previously could not access without credit cards," Fernandez said.

"Ang pagsibol ng (the rise of) online gambling platforms and lax regulations have encouraged a surge in gambling in this country," he added. 

He noted that influencers who promote gambling have also contributed to the problem.

As some cases of mental health issues--including depression that lead to suicide--are also triggered by addiction to gambling, Fernandez urged Congress to look into how mobile payment platforms have played role in the rise of gambling.

"This Congress needs to find out the moral issues surrounding payment platforms being used for an easy access to numerous gambling sites that lead to the destruction of the morality of this nation, creating destruction of family values and relationships, causing gambling addiction, not only to vulnerable ones, but also to those working class," he said.

"Gambling addiction is becoming a worldwide public health problem with the development of electronic forms of gambling and growing liberalization of the gambling market," he added.

Fernandez said that legislators, healthcare professionals and researchers need to come together and adopt a multi-faceted public health approach to reduce gambling related harm.

"I hope that in building this nation, the paramount consideration of all the laws that are being created by this Congress lead to maintaining the high moral values of all Filipinos," he said.