Bring back jai alai, workers urge GMA

Over a thousand workers of jai alai outlets in the country urged President Arroyo yesterday to intercede on their behalf for the return of the games, saying they are victims of a government that discriminates against the poor.

Carlito Esplanada, spokesman for the displaced workers, said they cannot understand why the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) had to stop jai alai when the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) was not yet final.

"We have been out of work for the last two months already. Most of us had to stop sending our children to school," he said "We cannot eat for dinner Pagcor’s promises that we will be hired in their other operations. This has never happened."

Esplanada said there are almost 2,000 workers of 450 jai alai off-fronton outlets.

"We are all out of work, and so with the over 5,000 non-regular workers who earn their money from off-fronton operations," he said.

Esplanada said they were told their future depends on the final SC ruling on jai alai in the country.

"We do not understand a lot of things here. Jai alai was legal before. It was even popular, almost next to basketball," he said. "Is it illegal because it is a game of the poor and the underprivileged?"

Esplanada said they want to remind the President of her promise to bring jobs to the people.

"The President has inspired us. She has given us hope that things will be better during her watch," he pointed out.

Investment in jai alai operations in the country reached almost P1.2 billion with the monthly payroll for over 2,000 regular workers recorded at P35 million. The same amount was being earned by workers in support industries.

About 5,000 regular workers and reserves in off-fronton operations are trained in computer operations while each teller is estimated to contribute P2,500 every night to government coffers.

From start of operations, total earnings for the government reached P450 million while it paid over P2 billion in total winnings.

Esplanada said winnings in the jai alai games are easily plowed back to the economy and do not leave the country like what happens at the Pagcor casinos.