CEBU, Philippines — A Cebuano lawmaker is pushing for certain amendments to the 45-year-old cockfighting law to make it “more relevant” to the present situation.

Ako Bisayas Party List Representative Sonny Lagon, a renowned gamefowl breeder and sportsman, has filed House Bill No. 2625 or the Revised Cockfighting Law of 2019 on July 24.

Lagon lobbied for its passage a few days before authorities raided a cockpit arena in Cebu earlier this month.

He said the burgeoning industry is governed by an antiquated law, Presidential Decree No. 449, issued in 1974 which “no longer conforms to the demands of the times.”

“After 45 years, it is necessary that the law be updated to keep up with the development in the field, meet new challenges and provide new opportunities. It is necessary to come with a new law that will provide measures and standards that ensure fairness in the conduct of the sport and likewise ensure that the government gets its fair share to boost its charitable programs,” he said.

PD 449 bans cockfighting on Rizal Day, National Heroes Day, Independence Day, Holy Thursday, Holy Friday, Election Day or Referendum Day and during Registration Days for such election or referendum.

The law states that cockfights can only be held on Sundays, legal holidays, local fiestas, agricultural, commercial and industrial fairs, carnivals, and expositions.

Provisions

The proposed bill provides that barangays may hold cockfights outside of licensed cockpits during fiestas and other holidays subject to approval by the local chief executives concerned.

It states that the proceeds shall redound to the sponsoring barangay’s general fund after deducting the permit fees and all expenses necessary thereto.

Violators may face prision correctional in its maximum period and a fine of P50,000, with subsidiary penalty of imprisonment in case of insolvency, when the offender is the financier, owner, manager, operator, gaffer, referee or bet taker; or the offender is guilty of allowing, promoting or participating in any other kind of gambling in the premises of the cockpit.

Also, the bill stipulates that the Games and Amusement Board in consultation with the Department of the Interior and Local Government shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of the law and for the issuance of licenses for gaffers, referees, promoters, hosts, casadors and pit managers.

Robust Industry

Moreover, Lagon said it is estimated that the Philippine gamefowl industry’s worth now stands at around P60 billion and is exhibiting a constant upward trend.

It covers production of gamefowl feed and veterinary products; manufacturing of related equipment and tools such as incubators, knives (tari), cord (tali), wing and leg bands, feeders and waterers; breeding; cockpit facilities and other related undertakings.

Lagon said the industry also provides direct and indirect job opportunities to individuals engaged in the sports, such as “sentenciadors” (individuals who officiate the fight), gaffers (mananari), kristo (bet-takers), informal cock doctors (manggagamot), farmhands and cockpit vendors in the hundreds of cockpit arenas across the country.

“With the constant growth over the years, the industry is seen to grow even more,” said Lagon. — KQD (FREEMAN)