ILOILO City – The city government must collect fair revenues from online cockfighting being held in its turf.
Atty. Jun Altura, legal adviser of Panay Gamefowl Breeders Association (PAGBA), suggested to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) that the city government require online cockpit operators a special permit every time they cover or stream cock derbies.
“Amo lang na ang paagi nga maka-earn man ang LGU (local government unit),” said Altura.
Altura was one of the resource persons during a recent hearing by the SP committee on games and amusement. The body tackled the request of E-Sports Encuentro Live Corp. for a “resolution of no objection” (RONO) to the operation of a cockpit including the streaming of cockfighting events.
“I don’t know if kinahanglan i-amend gid ninyo ang inyo Local Tax Code or butangan n’yo lang rider da sa RONO nga they cannot cover unless they secure a special permit every time they cover,” Altura told the city council.
“This is a small amount man lang kay daku ‘ni ang revenue nga gina-generate sang facility nga ‘ni. Indi lang ‘ni sa local, they are getting bets all over the world,” he added.
He noted that online bulang operators only secure annual permits, mayor’s permit and one-time payment of the franchise tax.
“Other than that, wala na. The LGU should consider this as a new taxable activity,” Altura added.
In the same hearing, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Iloilo City director Oscar Lim said it is up to the SP to grant a RONO to E-Sports Encuentro Live Corp. or not, although he was considering Altura’s proposal.
“Kon hambalon nga daku ang economic gain sang city, according to Atty. Altura, once mahatag mo ang RONO, wala na income ang city. It will still boil down to kon indi ma-regulate sang city, wala man ni cinco ang city,” he said.
He also opined that the city should check the provisions of the franchise granted by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to the e-bulang operator for that matter.
“Dapat before sila mag-issue RONO, lantawon anay nila kon ano ang contents sang franchise nga ginhatag sang PAGCOR kay basi gwa ya online ka bakal pag-abot sa imo, lain unod. Kon ara na, ti tapos na tanan. Wala na,” he added.
E-Sports Encuentro Live Corp., which is based in Sta. Cruz, Antipolo, Rizal, has a partnership with the Mandurriao Cockpit Arena in Mandurriao district for delayed digital broadcasts of cockfighting events./PN
