THE ban on the operations of licensed cockpits is still in effect in Mandaue City even though the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has already allowed the resumption of cockfighting activities in areas under modified general community quarantine.

The City has this reason for the continued prohibition on the popular blood sport—it is

considered non-essential to majority of its residents, said lawyer John Eddu Ibañez, executive secretary of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.

In Talisay City, the police will continue apprehending persons who participate in cockfighting events as there is no order from Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. allowing such activities.

In Cebu City, Mayor Edgardo Labella has tasked the Cebu City Gamefowl Commission to craft guidelines for the possible resumption of licensed cockpits’ operations.

Labella also issued a memorandum to Majority Floor Leader Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia to lead the public consultation on the matter.

The IATF recently issued Resolution No. 79 allowing cockfighting events in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ); however, it gave local government units the power to decide if licensed cockpits can resume operations in their respective jurisdictions.

The IATF porhibits an in-person audience and mandates that the participants, those owners of game fowl, must observe minimum health precautions such as wearing masks and face shields, and observing social distancing.

Online or remote betting and live broadcasting of the event are allowed by the IATF.

Cities’ efforts

According to Ibañez, allowing cockfighting events to resume in Mandaue City is still dangerous as there is no vaccine or medicine yet for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Ibañez said the holding of cockfighting activities in the interior portions of barangays is also illegal.

The personnel from the Mandaue City Police Office, barangay tanods and other regulatory offices will monitor the barangays to prevent illegal cockfigting events that are known in Cebuano as “tigbakay.”

Mandaue City has only one remaining cockpit located in Barangay Tabok since the popular one in Barangay Ibabao-Estancia was already closed and demolished.

In Talisay City, two licensed cockpits still cannot operate.

Just like in Mandaue City, Talisay City Police Station Chief Maj. Gerard Ace Pelare said they will also conduct patrols to prevent residents from holding “tigbakay,” an illegal, small-scale cockfighting event.

The entire Cebu province is under MGCQ for the whole month of October.

The IATF also allowed the return of horse racing.

In an earlier report, Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham Khalil “Baham” Mitra, expressed relief that millions of people depending on horse racing and cockfighting will be allowed to go back to their livelihood again.

Losses

Based on GAB’s report, the game fowl industry’s worth stands at P50 billion. The stoppage of the cockfighting activities due to Covid-19 has affected 30,000 breeders, 40 million game fowl, and 14,000 poultry supply stores nationwide, caused a sales drop in the feeds industry of 50 percent or equivalent to P15 billion, and a P3 billion loss for veterinary products, vitamins and vaccines.

The industry also affected 700,000 workers that includes cockpit employees and workers, breeders and farmhands, informal sectors, poultry supply employees, licensed gaffers and feeds, and agri-vet company employees.

GAB has registered 1,200 cockpits nationwide on an average of 20 employees per cockpit for a total of 24,000.

As a result of the pandemic, the government has lost around P2,406,260 from international derby that includes income from licenses issued (P942,480); income from permits issued (P270,680); and income from derby assessment fees (P1,193,100).

Meanwhile, a total of P1.2 billion is the estimated government income loss because of the temporary halt of horse racing operations due to the pandemic.

It also affected 629 GAB-licensed betting operation personnel (managers, computer operators, cashiers, manual verifiers and tellers) of Manila Jockey Club, Inc., Philippine Racing Club, Inc. and the Metro Manila Turf. It also sent 669 Off-Track Station operators without a source of livelihood. Further, the data excludes other horse racing employees who are part of the jurisdiction of the Philracom. (KFD, BBT, PAC / KAL / SunStar Philippines)