Las Piñas City Councilor Mark Anthony Santos recently publicly strongly opposed the Vila Group's plan to invest $1 billion in building two large casino resorts in the city. He directly pointed out that the plan is a "display of corporate greed" and vowed to use all legal means to prevent the casinos from landing in Las Piñas.
Santos emphasized that urban economic development should benefit the general public, not become a hotbed for a few capitals to profit. "We support employment and investment, but we can never let the city become a gambling center!" He said that real economic growth should bring sustainable community benefits and should not come at the cost of sacrificing social morals and residents' welfare.
He pointed out that the nearby city of Parañaque already has four large casino resorts, just a few minutes' drive away, and the market is already saturated. Santos worries that casinos will lead to gambling addiction, worsening public security, and family breakdowns, ultimately harming ordinary citizens.
The councilor stated that he would form an opposition alliance with community leaders, churches, and civil organizations to block project approvals, reflecting the difficult choices between economic development and social welfare in Las Piñas.
The Vila Group announced the casino location at C5 Highway Vista Mall Global South in July 2024, but Santos's strong opposition casts a shadow over the project's progress, indicating that it will face fierce resistance.
