The City Government of Cebu is taking a proactive stance against gambling by launching a comprehensive information campaign aimed at schools and local communities. This initiative seeks to educate residents, with a special focus on minors, about the significant risks and potential addiction associated with gambling.
City Council Bans All Gambling Advertisements
This major push for public education comes on the heels of a recently approved resolution spearheaded by City Councilor Joel Garganera. The resolution, passed on December 16, 2025, imposes a strict ban on all forms of gambling advertisements within the city's jurisdiction. The prohibition is comprehensive, covering:
- Billboards and large outdoor signs
- Posters and printed materials
- LED screens and digital displays
- Online advertisements
- Sponsorships for events that promote gambling
The primary goal of this ban is to curb the social harms linked to gambling and prevent it from becoming a normalized activity among young people and low-income households.
Mayor Archival Emphasizes Early Education and Community Role
At a press conference held on Monday, December 22, 2025, Mayor Nestor Archival outlined the city's strategy. He emphasized that early education and robust public awareness are the cornerstone tactics to solve gambling addiction.
Archival highlighted the critical role that schools and parents must play in shaping responsible behavior. “First, in everything we do, we will start in the schools,” the Mayor stated. He pointed to the city's past successful community-based programs, like its anti-smoking campaigns, as a model for this new initiative.
The Mayor explained that children are more receptive to guidance at a younger age, making schools the ideal starting point for prevention. He called for a united effort from all sectors to protect vulnerable groups from the lure of gambling promotions.
A Multi-Pronged Strategy for Enforcement and Protection
While the advertising ban is a powerful tool, city officials acknowledge the challenge of enforcement, particularly online where many platforms operate outside the city's direct jurisdiction. Mayor Archival stressed that public cooperation and understanding are vital for the ordinance's success.
The city plans to implement a three-pronged approach that combines:
- Education in schools and through community outreach.
- Strict enforcement of the new advertising ordinance.
- Sustained public information drives to reduce exposure to gambling promotions.
This integrated strategy is designed to create a protective shield around the community's youth and other at-risk sectors, aiming to foster a healthier social environment free from the pressures of gambling advertising.
