Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang affirmed that ‘online sabong’ (cockfighting) will help generate revenue for the city government of Davao.
Dayanghirang reiterated during the session of the City Council last Tuesday, that taxes are the lifeblood of the city to fund the projects of the city government of Davao especially in times like the pandemic. He said there is a golden opportunity to earn revenue with the proposed ordinance. The city is losing P87,500 per day or P612,500 per week of revenue in amusement taxes, which could help fund the upcoming projects to help fight the pandemic.
“Looking at it tuloy tuloy na po ito nasa pipeline na and it is only a matter of approving it and publishing it and for the Executive Department to come up the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and we hope that through this will help the revenue of all cities and municipalities para makatulong tayo tulad ng pambili ng gasolina sa ating mga abulansiya, pambili ng gamot sa mga tinamaan ng Covid,” he said in his YoutTube channel.
Dayanghirang also cited challenges in the implementation of the proposed ‘online sabong’ that include the broadcasting of the online cockfight and the collection of amusement taxes.
“Ang mga features nito ay depende sa mga ordinanses ng LGUs kasi may kanyan kanyang system yan sa collection of taxes like amusement taxes. Yung amusement taxes usually is 10 percent from total cost of ticket (sabong),” he added.
“Sa online sabong nagkakagulo dito dahil merong guidelines ang Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) governing the operation of online sabong. Ano ito? yung manok ay nilalaro o pinasasabong o pini-play doon sa Manila at ilalabas sa mga outlets like internet at YouTube at doon po ay pupusta na ang mga tao. Paano magpusta yung mga tao maybe through Paymaya or other online payment at ikaw ay mag-register. In short parang laro ng kabayo ito or horse racing yun ang concept,” he said.
Dayanghirang said one of the requirements for e-sabong to be broadcasted is to ask approval from the local government units (LGUs).
“Bago ito mapalabas sa isang lugar, probinsya or city, we need the consent or approval galing sa LGU units from the mayor, governor and all the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and in the case of cities, its Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP),” he said.
Dayanghirang also said that charges per match is still subject for discussion at the City Council.
“In this case dahil mapapanood mo lang sa TV, ano yung mababayaran mo? Ang babayaran mo, in the case of Davao City, ay magcha-charge kami every sultada (match), every sabong represents a cost that will go to the amusement tax of the city. Meaning the costing will be per fight,” he added.
He said applicants to operate electronic “sabong” have to apply to the City Mayor’s Office and the mayor will endorse it to the SP for approval.
“Why apply to the mayor? Because you must have a business permit under the revenue code ng lahat ng mga LGU at lahat ng magne-negosyo sa isang munisipyo o probinsya ay dapat merong business permit,” he said.
Dayanghirang said the city can allow ‘online sabong now in Davao City consistent to the IRR of PAGCOR.
“We just amended the local ordinance of cockfighting code, then ipapasok lang namin ito including e-sabong and using that amendment of the ordinance, we can allow now the online “sabong” locally in Davao City consistent to the IRR of PAGCOR,” he said.
