On June 24-25, 2026, the two-day activity of the Commission on Higher Education Cordillera (CHED) PeerKada Vibe: Building Healthy Connections, Nurturing Inclusive and Supportive Spaces" with the main objective of establishing a localized mental health and student support network in relation to the unique academic, cultural, and geographical environment of the Cordillera Region. **Photo by neimless_skills
A proposed ordinance seeks to curb gambling-related harms in Baguio City by banning online gambling operations, gambling advertisements in public spaces, and gambling-related sponsorships as well as imposing stricter regulations on lawful games of chance.
Under the proposal, no new permits or renewals shall be allowed for online gambling operations and related service providers within Baguio City. Covered activities include online casinos, e-games, online sabong, e-bingo outlets, online poker, Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), computer gaming stations, and support entities that enable such operations. Existing businesses covered by the prohibition shall be given one year from the effectivity of the ordinance to cease operations.
The measure also seeks to prohibit gambling advertisements, marketing, and promotional activities in public spaces. Billboards, posters, LED screens, transit advertisements, flyers, and other forms of outdoor advertising promoting gambling shall no longer be allowed. Gambling advertisements shall only be permitted within the premises of duly licensed establishments. Gambling-related branding and promotions shall likewise be prohibited in schools, universities, parks, churches, sports facilities, and other areas identified as Healthy Child Zones.
In addition, gambling operators shall be barred from sponsoring educational, sports, cultural, religious, artistic, tourism, and city government activities including barangay events and the Panagbenga Festival. Donations and corporate social responsibility activities shall remain permissible provided they do not carry the name, logo, or promotional materials of gambling companies.
To strengthen oversight and enforcement, the ordinance proposes the creation of the Youth and Family Protection Against Gambling Council (YFPAGC), a multi-sectoral body composed of representatives from the city government, law enforcement agencies, the academe, civil society organizations, and barangays.
The YFPAGC shall be tasked with regulating barangay fundraising games, receiving public complaints, coordinating enforcement actions, prescribing betting limits for licensed establishments, and submitting quarterly reports to the City Council.
The proposal places strong emphasis on youth protection. Persons below 25 years old shall not be allowed to enter gambling establishments or participate in games of chance including barangay bingo activities. Schools, universities, student dormitories, and similar facilities shall be designated as gambling-free zones, with violations subject to penalties and referral to appropriate regulatory authorities.
The ordinance also seeks to regulate Bingo sa Barangay activities which the Supreme Court has recognized as a legitimate fundraising mechanism for barangays. Only traditional, non-electronic bingo using physical cards and manually drawn numbers shall be allowed. Barangays intending to conduct such activities shall be required to notify the YFPAGC, comply with venue and age restrictions, observe limits on the frequency and duration of events, and submit financial reports detailing the use of proceeds for community projects.
The proposal expressly prohibits the use of barangay resolutions to legitimize prohibited street gambling activities such as color games, hulog-bola, beto-beto, and pula-puti.
To address online gambling, the ordinance calls for the establishment of a digital reporting system that shall allow residents to report illegal gambling websites, mobile applications, and social media accounts. Reports shall be endorsed to national agencies such as PAGCOR, the National Telecommunications Commission, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center for appropriate action.
The city shall also coordinate with internet service providers and electronic payment platforms to help detect and deter illegal gambling transactions.
The measure further requires the conduct of sustained public education and digital literacy campaigns in coordination with schools, universities, barangays, and national government agencies. These initiatives shall focus on raising awareness about the risks associated with gambling, promoting responsible digital citizenship, and helping residents identify gambling-related scams and online schemes.
For licensed gaming establishments allowed to continue operating, the ordinance shall require the implementation of responsible gaming measures, including player registration systems, self-exclusion options, and single bettor limits intended to prevent excessive gambling. Monthly reports on compliance and gambling activity shall also be required.
Violators of the proposed ordinance may face fines of up to P5,000.00, imprisonment of up to one year, or both, depending on the discretion of the court. Additional administrative sanctions may include the revocation of permits, closure of establishments, removal of prohibited advertisements, and the imposition of daily fines for continuing violations.
The proposed ordinance was approved on second reading by the Baguio City Council on June 22, 2026, and will undergo further legislative deliberations and refinements before final approval. **Jordan G. Habbiling