REVENUE from stag derby or sabong in the city increased by 250% post-pandemic, a city councilor reported on Tuesday.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the revenue from cockfighting reached P12 million annually, skyrocketing to P42 million in 2022, Bonguyan citing a report from the City Treasurer’s Office.
Jessica Bonguyan, chairman of the city council committee on games and amusements, attributed the dramatic increase to the amendments to the ordinance, which increased the tax on cockpit operators.
“Before pandemic sa atong sabong naa tay revenue na P12 million a year but this time after our Revenue Code was amended, nausab ang atoang mga taxes on that, niabot na og P42 million a year,” Bonguyan said.
Increasing the amusement tax was one of the conditions for lifting the ban and resuming the operations of galleras in the city post-pandemic.
To recall, the former mayor now Vice President Sara Duterte banned derbies in all cockfighting arenas in the city in April 2020 after several individuals contracted COVID-19 after participating in six-cock derby at the New Davao Matina Gallera.
The councilor added the revenue is expected to increase especially in the stag season from July to August as numerous operators already applied for special permits in the city council.
“Expected there will be a lot of schedules for derby and in turn, we collect large tax from the operators,” she said.
The councilor stressed that stag derbies are allowed during the fiesta and Araw celebration of barangays, provided this is done in legitimate and authorized cockfighting arenas. Otherwise, small-scale rooster fighting in barangays is deemed illegal and subject to police raids.
Four cockpit arenas in the city are actively in operation including New Matina Gallera in Matina, Aquino Colesium, RB Force Complex Cockpit Arena in Cabaguio, and Calinan Cockpit Arena.
