THE city council has initially approved the proposal to hold electronic cockfighting as part of increasing its revenues..
Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang, sponsor of the proposal, said in a message that the proposal will allow companies to allow “electronic sabong franchisees to broadcast live and data stream cockfighting activities and derbies at commercial establishments and to establish, operate and maintain offsite cockpit better station within the city.
The proposal, titled E-Ordinance of 2021 which had the blessing of Mayor Sara Duterte, would allow the city to generate about P73.9 million if implemented, said Dayanghirang, also the city council chair of the games and amusement.
He explained that the ordinance, if finally approved, “will regulate the broadcast of e-sabong in the proper designated places only and ensure that no minors can watch or place bets.
At the start of the COVID-19, cockfighting activities in the city became controversial after the first few infections were traced to a derby at the New Matina Gallera.
This prompted the mayor to ban the activities, but some individuals went on to hold these activities even with the danger of getting arrested.
The continued interest in holding of cockfighting coupled with the desire of raising more money to help the city bankroll its programs, including those directed at helping arrest the pandemic, pushed Duterte to call for the passage of the proposal.
Under the approved proposal, only those who have acquired licenses from the city government can mount online cockfighting which will be done in a licensed cockpit, unless otherwise allowed in some other area, including the acceptance of bets through electronic means within the territorial jurisdiction of the city.”
These licensed operators can also “establish, operate and maintain off-site cockpit betting stations shall be located and operated only within appropriated areas as prescribed by zoning laws and applicable ordinances.”
“No establishment shall be operated and maintained within the radius of two hundred (200) lineal meters from any existing school buildings, churches and public buildings,” it added.
Aside from paying the required fees for securing franchises, the entities will also be made to pay a special fee to broadcast “consisting of 30% of 1% of the gross receipts derived by the operator from the `plasada’ on bets, through electronic means, within Davao City, or P40,000 per event per day whichever is higher.”
Another P350 per “sultada” will also be collected from the operator as amusement tax.
