Ordinance banning gambling inside “peryahan” in Kalinga pushed; “Nu haan tayo aksyonan daytoy maperdi ti future dagitoy ubing…” – BM Donaal

Tabuk City, Kalinga – To protect young people in Kalinga from gambling and other unsafe activities inside amusement parks (peryahan), Board Member Christopher Donaal is pushing for an ordinance that seeks to establish strict rules for peryahan operations in the province.

While peryahan is intended to be a place for fun, especially during events and Christmas celebrations, Donaal said reports from the Kalinga Provincial Police Office (KPPO), barangay officials, and civil society groups “have linked peryahan-based gambling to increased incidents of robbery, physical injuries, domestic violence, and financial exploitation,” particularly during peak operation periods.

Following these reports, Donaal said he immediately crafted the measure to protect iKalinga youth from activities that can destroy their future and lead them to acts that violate the law.

“Ammo tayo nga ti sugal ket adu ti negative effects na. Nu haan tayo aksyonan daytoy, maperdi ti future dagitoy ubing tayo. Gapu ti sugal, maaramidan ti maysa a tao agtakaw, agloko, mangdangran ti padana nga tao, and even pumatay. Youth exposure to gambling has long-term effects. Families have been reporting these problems, and I have to take action kas inpatugaw ti kakailyan tayo nga Board Member,” Donaal relayed in an interview.

Donaal emphasized that while the provincial government recognizes the cultural and recreational value of peryahan, there is a need to institutionalize safeguards that uphold public morality, youth protection, and community peace—hence, the proposed ordinance.

The provincial legislator explained that the measure is not only a response to the reports from police, parents, and civil society organizations but also anchored on legal grounds.

Among the laws he cited is Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991), which empowers local government units to enact measures that promote morals, safety, and welfare, and mandates the state to shield children from exploitative environments, including exposure to gambling and its psychological harms, among other related provisions.

Specifically, the ordinance seeks to “absolutely” ban gambling of any form inside peryahan sites across the province, require strict permits and regulations for all organizers, impose youth safeguards such as visible signage, designated monitored areas, marshals, coordinated efforts among concerned LGUs and agencies, and establish penalties for violators.

Entitled “Anti-Gambling and Youth Protection in Peryahan Ordinance of Kalinga,” the proposal now moves to the second reading before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Kalinga, headed by Vice Governor Dave Odiem.